them that goe down into the pit Cause me to hear thy loving kindenesse in the morning for in thee doe I trust cause me to know the way wherein I should walk for I lift up my soul unto thee Deliver me O Lord from my enemies viz. from my sinnes I fly unto thee to hide me teach me to doe thy will for thou art my God thy Spirit is good lead me into the land of uprightnesse Quicken me O Lord for thy Names sake for thy righteousnesse sake bring my soul out of trouble And of thy mercy cut off my enemies viz my sinnes and destroy all them that afflict my soul for I am thy servant I will rejoyce to work in thy vineyard O my creatour and in the strength of thy mercies will attend thy call to rest as thy most obedient servant Amen V. Comfort Take comfort in a constant thirsting to be dissolved and to be with Christ as his servants are who be already dissolved if almighty God in Christ Jesus were so pleased Read Gerrards Meditations Though death as to us is bitter yet in from pag. 268 unto pag. 302. our trust on almighty God in Christ it is sweet For who keepâ—th his word shall never see death Joh. 8.51 The misery of a Christian dieth but not the Christian man we lose not our friends at their death but they goe before us to the place of our enjoyment of them in Christ Jesus for ever as we may well beleeve Luk. 2.29 Simeon saith Lord now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace And Phil. 1.23 The Apostle desires to be dissolved and to be with Christ which is best of all Rev. 7.9 The elect have robes in token of innocency and palms in their hands in token of victory therein are all tears wiped away from our eyes Ver. 17. And therein is no mourning nor grief nor any cry heard but rest from labour Chap. 21. v. 4. and 14.15 Our blessed Saviour shews the great benefit of being dissolved when his Disciples were sad at it he said Joh. 14.28 If ye loved me ye would rejoyce rather Phil. 1.21 Death is gain The Father judgeth no man but hath committed all judgement to his Sonne therefore rejoyce in thy true belief to goe to that judgement For Joh. 3.16 God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Sonne that who so beleeveth in him should not perish but have everlasting life Matth. 18.14 Neither is it the will of our Father that one of the little ones should perish Ver. 11. Our Saviour came to save that which was lost He takes away the sinnes of the world He died for the sinnes of the world He hath a gracious call for us as Come ye blessed of my Father inherit the Kingdome prepared for you He maketh intercession for us and hath blotted out the hand-writing which was against us Joh. 5.24 He that heareth his word and believeth on him that sent him hath life everlasting and shall not come into condemnation O my Saviour I beleeve yet help thou my unbelief and increase thou my faith Eph. 5.29 30. That I may truly and as I ought beleeve my self to be and be a member of thy body of thy flesh and of thy bones O my Saviour in the power of thy might and as thou diedst to save sinners make me holy is thou the Lord my God art holy The dayes of my pilgrimage are few and evill My conversation is in Heaven and I desire to see the goodnesse of the Lord in the land of the living When shall I appear before thy face O God As the Hart panteth after the fountain of water so doth my heart after thee O God At thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore I shall be abundantly satisfied with the plentifullnesse of thy house and thou shalt give me to drink of the brook of thy pleasures for with thee is the fountain of life and in thy light shall we see light Thou O Lord art the portion of my inheritance and my exceeding great reward Thou shalt of thy free love to sinners shewed in Jesus Christ cover me with the garment of salvation and cloathe me with the white robe of righteousnesse where there is no hunger nor thirst nor scorching Sunne Of the fruit of the vine shall I drink in thy Kingdome for thy words are spirit and life therefore shall death be swallowed up in victory and thou O Saviour shalt for thy free merit in the blessed mercy of our eternall Father wipe away all tears from my eyes for ever for thou art my all-sufficient Lord God While we live we cannot hope to cease from sinne but when we die we hope to sinne no more which consideration doth administer great comfort in the remembrance and appearance of death to those that are truly weary of sinning against their God VI. The first Comfort in the pangs and passages of Death First Because the will of God is therein done in Jesus Christ which is certainly the best for us It is appointed to all men once to die and after that comes the judgment Heb. 9.27 2 Cor. 4.14 Knowing that he which hath raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise us up also by Jesus therefore we faint not but though our outward man perish yet the inward man is renewed daily Ver. 17. For our light afflictions which are but for a moment causeth unto us a farre more excellent and an eternall weight of glory while we look not on the things that are seen but on the things which are not seen for the things which are seen are temporall but the things which are not seen are eternall Read Gerrards Meditations p. 109. praying for a blessed departure out of this life and a blessed resurrection unto life ever lasting And Read the fift Chapter of the 2d Cor. in which is admirable comfort in the passages of death that we may be present with the Lord. Jam. 1.12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptations for when he is tried he shall receive the Crown of life which the Lord hath promised to them that love him Then present thy sould a true devotary unto our most gracious Father in Jesus Christ and say with David Psal 31.5 Into thy hands I commend my spirit for thou hast redeemed me O Lord God of truth Ps 71.23 My lips will rejoyce when I sing unto thee and my soul which thou hast delivered And rejoyce with Paul Gal. 3.13 saying Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the Law when he was made a curse for us for it is written Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree Then gathering thy spirit freeing thy soul of worldly thougths say in faith and true repentance in full assurance that our good God is all-sufficient and that his mercy endures for ever and that in Jesus thy Saviour he hath elected and adopted thee his sonne Come Lord Jesus my most dear Saviour come quickly Amen VII A second Comfort in the passages of Death Take
discretion Prov. 23.9 Here thou my sonne and be wise and guide thy heart in the way And 11.3 The integrity of the upright shall guide them but the perversness of transgressours shall destroy them Deut. 12.7 And you shall eate before the Lord your God and ye shall rejoice in all that ye put your hand unto yea and your houshould wherein the Lord your God hath blessed you Psal 12.2 They speake vanity every one with his neighbour with flattering lips and with a double heart doe they speak Prov. 26.28 A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it and a flattering mouth worketh ruine Prov. 27.24 He that hateth dissembleth with his lips and layeth up deceit with him Psal 26.4 I have not sate with vaint persons neither will I goe in with dissemblers 1 Cor. 10.24 Let no man seek his own but every man anothers wealth And Ver. 33. Not seeking my own profit but the profit of many that they may be saved Psal 5.9 For there is no faithfullness in their mouthes their inward part in very wickedness their throat is an open sepulchre they flatter with their tongues Matth. 23.14 Woe unto you Scribes and Pharisees hypocrites for you devour widowes houses and for a pretence make long prayers therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation Prov. 25 1â— As an ear-ring of gold and an ornament of fine gold so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear And 6. Ver. 23. Reproofs of instruction are the way to life And Chap. â— Ver. 5. A man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsell And Chap. 12. Ver. 5. The thoughts of the righteous are right but the counsels of the wicked are deceit Prov. 22.26 Be not thou one of them that strike hands or of them that are sureties for debts And Chap. 11. Ver. 15. He that hateth suretiship is sure Eph. 5.15 See that you walk circumspectly not as fools but as wise Ver. 18. And be not drunk with wine wherein is excess but be filled with the spirit Prov. 3.23 Then thou shalt walk in the way safely and thy foot shall not stumble Ver. 24. When thou lyest down thou shalt not be afraid yea thou shalt lye down and thy sleep shall be sweet Matth. 10.17 Beware of men Col. 2.8 Beware least any man spoil you through Philosophy and vain deceit 2 Pet. 3.17 Seeing that ye know these things before beware least ye also being led away with he errour of the wicked fall from your own stedfastness Matth. 5.25 Agree with thy adversary quickly while thou art in the way with him least at any time the adversary deliver thee to the Judg the Judg deliver thee to the officer and thou be cast into prison Prov. 24.17 Rejoyce not when thy enemy falleth and let not thy heart be glad when he stumbleth Gal. 6.10 As we have therefore opportunity let us doe good unto all men especially unto them who are of the houshold of faith Nah. 1.2 God is jealous and the Lord revengeth the Lord revengeth and is furious the Lord will take vengeance on his adversaries and he reserveth wrath for his enemies Amos 4.12 Therefore thus will I doe unto thee O Israel and because I will doe this unto thee prepare to meet thy God O Israell Eccl. 7.1 The day of death is better then the day of birth And Ch. 8. Ver. 8. Wickedness shall not deliver those that are given to it Psal 50.6 For God is Judg himself Eccl. 11.9 But know that for all these things God will bring thee to judgment Heb. 9.27 It is appointed to all men once to die and after this the judgment Luk. 16.22 And it came to passe that the beggar died and was carried by the Angels into Abrahams bosome the rich man also died and was buried And Ver. 23. And in hell he lift up his eyes being in torment Prov. 12.23 In the way of righteousness is life and in the path-way thereof there is no death Joh. 8.50 51. I seek not my own glory there is one that seeketh and judgeth verily verily I say-unto you if a man keep my sayings he shall never see death Psal 26.11 But as for me I will walk in my integrity And 86. Ver. 11. Teach me thy way O Lord I will walk in thy truth unite my heart to fear thy Name Isa 12.2 Behold God is my salvation I will trust and not be afraid for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song he also is become my salvation Prov. 28.13 He that covereth his sins shall not prosper but who so confesseth them shall have mercy Phil. 1.21 For to me to live is Christ and to die is gain Ver. 22. But if I live in the flesh this is the fruit of my labour yet which I shall choose I wot not for I am in a straight betwixt two having a desire to depart and to be with Christ which is farre better Rom. 6.7 He that is dead is freed from sinne Rev. 4.14 Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord. Psal 112.7 He shall not be afraid of evill tydings his heart is fixed trusting in the Lord. Psal 48.14 For this God is our God for ever and ever he will be our guide even unto death Psal 89.48 What man is he that liveth and shall not see death shall he deliver his soul from the hand of the grave Psal 90.8 I delight to doe thy will O God yea thy Law is within my heart Matth. 6.10 Thy will be done in earth as it is in Heaven Deut. 4.9 Onely take heed to thy self and keep thy soul diligently least thou forget the things which thy eyes have seen and least they depart from thy heart all the dayes of thy life but teach them thy sonnes and thy sonnes sonnes Luk. 21.34 And take heed to your selves least at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeting and drunkennesse and cares of this life and so that day come upon you unawares Eccl. 9.12 For man also knoweth not his time as the fishes that are taken in an evill net and as the birds that are caught in the snare so are the sonnes of men snared in an evill time when it falleth suddenly upon them Mark 13.35 36 37. Watch ye therefore for ye know not when the master of the house cometh at even or at midnight or at the Cock-crowing or in the morning least coming suddenly he finde you sleeping and what I say unto you I say unto all watch Jer. 50.38 They are mad upon their Idols Prov. 30.2 Surely I am more bruitish then any man I have not the understanding of a man 2 Chr. 30.10 So the posts passed from City to City through the Countrey of Ephraim and Manasses even unto Zebulon but they laughed them to scorn and mocked them Matth. 25.46 And these shall goe away into everlasting punishment but the righteous into life eternall Psal 9.16 The Lord is known by the judgments which he executeth the wicked is snared in the works of his hands
though there were neither Hell of his justice nor Heaven of his mercy 2. True love will choose rather to serve our good God in Hell for ever if it could more fully and better do him perfect service in those flames then to be for ever in the highest joyes of Heaven these not to serve him as fully and as truly 3. To desire the eternall and whole conversion of thy soul and body for ever into the everlasting service of thy good Creatour in true love and to finde therein thy true peace is true love Love truly converted into the will of God is Heaven and those that are so converted may be said to be in Heaven upon earth for neither love nor Heaven can here be perfect but although they be still in their earthly tabernacles they have heavenly peace both of minde and conscience which cannot be quite taken from them although here must be no perfection whereby the whole will of almighty God without which either by appointment or permission nothing comes to passe is the true joy and content of their mindes wills and souls The love of our good Father is shown to us in his Sonne Jesus who as it were took satisfaction for our sinnes in his sufferings that his justice being satisfied in the sufferings death and passion of our Saviour Jesus we might have onely the mercy of our good Father to appear before which in his eternall love to us is sufficient for our Salvation when the justice of our good God could no other wayes be satisfied but by our damnation The great and unexpressible love prevailed with the sacred Deity for us when our Saviour Jesus could have been rescued from his sufferings for us with more then twelve legions of Angels and when he could have had as great honour if not greater in our condemnation then in our salvation Let our souls and bodies then with all their faculties be converted into the true love of our Saviour Jesus for ever For His 1. Coming down from his Fathers right-hand from his being God with his Father for ever 2. Poverty that thou mightest be rich 3. Not having whereon to lay his head 4. Wandrings and fastings and prayers for thee 5. Being betrayed 6. Being apprehended as a malefactor 7. Being fasly accused 8. Scarlet robe of derision 9. Crowne of Thornes 10. Being condemned 11. Nayling to the Crosse 12. Cruell thirst 13. Sweating bloud 14. Side stricken with a spear 15. Bleeding water and bloud at that wound 16. Sufferings from his cradle to his grave 17. Bitter passion causing him to cry My God my God why hast thou forsaken me 18. Lying in the grave 19. Resurrection 20. Now sitting at the right-hand of his Father and in him our Father in Heaven there asking the forgivenesse of all our sinnes of his Father who never denies him any thing Wherefore let us stand at the foot of the Crosse of this our Saviour weeping for sorrow that our sinnes caused his sufferings but for joy that through his infinite love shewed therein we are freed from sinne death and hell and have a place prepared in the power of his might where we shall see and partake of his blessed glory as his elected servants for ever Amen Thou needest not to fear death for thy Saviour hath destroyed the sting of death that is the Devill Read Heb. 2.14 15 16 17 18 verses there 's comfort enough in any condition the words are these Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood he also himself likewise took part of the same that through death he might destroy him which had the power of death that is the Devill And deliver them who through fear of death were all their life time subject to bondage For verily he took not on him the nature of Angels but he took on him the seed of Abraham wherefore in all things it became him to be made like unto his brethren that he might be a mercifull and a faithfull High-Priest in things pertaining to God to make reconciliation for the sinnes of the people For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted he is able to succour them that are tempted See an admirable expression of the infinite love of God which may preserve us from despair and may give us true joy from our humble desires to serve him though we cannot desire much more perfectly serve him as we ought Isa 40.1 2. Comfort ye comfort ye my people will your God say speak comfortably to Jerusalem and say unto her that her warfare is accomplished that her iniquities are pardoned From hence is sweet and solid comfort in all conditions An humble Prayer O Lord remember thy mercies draw me unto the Sonne of thy love Psal 139.23 24. and lead me in the way of thy precepts Try me O God and know my heart prove me and know my thoughts and consider if there be any way of wickednesse in me and lead me in the way for ever 5.8 Lead me O Lord in thy righteousnesse because of my enemies 27.11 make thy way plain before my face Teach me thy way O Lord and lead me in a right path because of my enemies by enemies understand inward and outward of the soul and of the body but especially those inward enemies which are the ruin and destruction of both 31.3 For thou art my rock and my fortresse therefore for thy Name sake 43.3 direct and guide me Send thy light and thy truth let them lead me let them bring me unto thy holy mountains and unto thy tabernacles 143.10 Teach me to doe thy will for thou art my God let thy good Spirit lead me unto the land of righteousnesse Draw me O God and I will runne after thee Cant. 1.4 Psal 28.3 Job 7.16 Draw me not away with the wicked and with the workers of iniquity I shall not live alwaies O spare me then for my daies are but vanity I rejoice O Lord my God in thy love because thou art mercifull and wilt spare me as a man spareth his sonne that serveth him for thy mercy endures for ever Selah Thou art my good Father O my Creatour thou wilt not punish me nor impute to me my Originall sinnes which descended upon me from the wicked rebellion of my first parents even as my body is from them but the soul that sinneth and doth not look towards thee nor desire thy gracious gift of true repentance it shall die Yet art thou O my good Father wholly and only good and thy mercy endures for ever Selah Thou wilt not punish the presumptuous sinnes and vanities of my youth for thou art good and thy mercy endures for ever Selah Thou delightest not in the death of a sinner O God but wouldst that all should be converted from their evill waies and live Thou art my All-sufficient God of mercy whose will is all things both in Heaven and earth I trust in Jesus thy only Sonne my Saviour
non habent 1 Thos 4. Melior est dies mort is Eccl. 6. die nativitatis laudavi mag is mortuos quam viventes Mors est munus necessarium naturae tam corruptae quae non non est fugienda sed potius amplectenda Qui credâ—t ei qui misit me habet vitam aeternam Joh. 5. et non in judicium veniet sed transiet á morte in vitam Cum infirmor 2 Cor. 11. Jam. 1. tunc potens sum Reatus qui suffers tentationem quoniam cum probatus fuerit accipiet coronam vitae quam repromisit Deus diligentibus se Estote misericordes Luk. 6 sicut pater vester celestis misericors est Estote imitatores Dei sicut filij carissimi Christianus christi nominis similitudinem tenet Aug. morum quoê™ similitudinem habere debet nam Christiani nomen ille frustra sortitur qui Christum minime imitatur Judicium sine miserecordiâ ei fiat qui non fecerit misâ—ricordiam Da pauperibus habebis thesaurum in caelo Mat. 9 Prov. 14. Mat. 5. Mat. 25. Qui miseretur pauperis beatus erit Beati misericordes quoniam misericordiam consequentur Veuez bien heureux de mon pere entrezeu la possession du Royaume qui vous est preparé dés la creation du monde car i' ay en faim vous m' auex donné a manger c. Quod uni ex meis minimis fecistis mihi fecistis A subitaneâ improvisâ morte libera nos Domine Non potest malé mori qui bené vixerit Aug. vix bene moritur qui male vixerit Vobis datum est non solum utin Christum credatis Phil. sed ut pro ipso patiamini Cupio dissolvi Phil. 1. 1 Cor. 2. esse cum Christo Oculus non vidit auris non audivit nec in cor hominis ascendit quae praeparavit Deus diligentibus se Quelle chose y a il en ce monde pour contenter l'ame Aug. rien de tout il n' y a que Dieu seul Inquieâ—um est cor nostrum donec quiescat in te Ps 6. satiabor cum aparuerit gloriatua Deus fecit hominem Aug. ut summum bonum intelligeret intelligendo amaret amando possideret possidendo fueretur Gaudium in caelo erit super una peccatore paenitentiam agente Luk. 15. quam super nonaginta novem justos qui non indâ—gent panitentiâ Jesus Christus venit in hunc mundum peccatores salvos facere 1 Tim. 4. Dimissa sunt â—i peccata multa qui a dilexit multum Luk 7. Jam non est is hospites Eph. 2. advena sed est is cives sanctorum domestici Dei. Beati servi illi quos cum venerit Dominus invenerit vigilantes Luk 2. Nihil occultum quod non seiatur Mark 4. nihil opertum quod non revelatur De die illâ nemo scit ne quidem Angeli Calorum neque filus hominis Talem te judicat Deus Mat. 24. Cyprian Luk. 12. qualem te invenerit cum vorat Beati servi illi quos cum venerit Dominus invenerit vigilantes scilicet in statu gratia in peccatis non dormientes Ante juditium Eccl. 8. Joh. 14. Psal 110. para justitiam tibi ante languorem ad hibe medicinam Diligamus Deum quiaipse prius dilexit nos Initium sapientiae timor Dei qui timet Deum faciet bona A timore tuo concepimus spiritum salutis Quoties in quit Hier. diem judicij considero toto corpore contre misco sive enime comedarn sive bibam sive quid aliud faciam semper videtur illa tuba terribilis insonare auribus meis surgite mortui venite ad juditium Non intres in juditium cum servo tuo Domine Psal 104. quia non justificabitur in conspectu tuo omnis vivens Vix justus salvabitur miser peccator ubi parebunt Nolite omni spiritui credere 1 Pet. 4. 1 Joh. 4. Aug. Heb. 11. sed probate spiritus si ex Deo sint Noll intellegre ut credas sed crede ut intelligas Fides est substantia rerum sperandarum argumentum non apparentium Quod fui Domine ignosce quod sum corrige quod cro dirige Serva comissum expecta promissum cave probibitum Adversa corporis animae remedio sunt agritudo carnem vulnerat sed mentem curat For the mortification of the flesh VVHat man is he that liveth and shall not see death It is decreed in our first parents so to have been instituted that if they had not sinned they should not have died In what hour thou eatest thou shalt die Man when he was in honour understood not but is compared to the beasts that perish and is made like unto them The envy of the devill brought death upon all the earth The devill is the murtherer from the beginning A man is fallen into the hands of thieves c. that is to say into the hands and power of devils which spoiled him of his garment of originall justice of the robe of grace of innocence and of charity and by the wounds of sinne left him half dead but Jesus Christ our good and true Samaritane As in Adam all are dead even so in Christ shall all live It is appointed to all men once to die We die daily and continually our life in some part diminisheth and while we increase our lives decrease As the Hart desireth the rivers of waters so desireth my soul to come to thee O God My soul thirsteth to God the living fountaine when shall I come and appear before the face of my God The Apostle St Paul saith My desire is to be dissolved from this flesh and to be with Jesus Christ which is much better After this the judgment Pretious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his Saints The just shall be had in eternall remembrance The death of sinners is the worst death The face of the Lord is against those that doe iniquity The sinners shall be blotted out of the book of the living and with the just they shall not be written Live thou to say with St Paul I have fought the good fight I have finished my course I have kept the faith therefore there is reserved for me a Crown of justice the which my God the just Judge shall give me in that day and our good God of his infinite pity shall say to thee Thou hast called to me out of the deep and I have heard thee c. Remember the end in all things and thou shalt not sinne to death Ye have said we have made a league with death and with hell an agreement The Prophet answers them Your Covenant with death shall be dissolved and your agreement with hell shall not stand By the envy of Satan and by sinne death hath taken dominion
Matth. 7.13 Wide is the gate and broad the way that leads to destruction and many there be that goe in thereat Ver. 14. Strait is the gate and narrow is the way which leadeth unto life and few there be that finde it Rom. 13.13 Let us walk honestly as in the day not in rioting and drunkennesse not in chambering and wantonnesse not in strife and envying Ver. 14. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision for the flesh to fulfill the lusts thereof Rom. 6.22 But now being made free from sinne and become the servants of God ye have your fruit unto holinesse and the end everlasting life And 8.18 For I reckon that the moment any afflictions of this life are not worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed in us 1 Cor. 9.24 So runne that you may obtain Zach. 4.10 For who hath despised the day of small things Psal 89.47 Remember O Lord how short my time is Col. 4.5 Walk in wisdome redeeming the time Matth. 26.41 Watch and pray that ye enter not into temptation 2 Chron. 29.11 My sonne be not now negligent Matth. 7.23 Depart from me ye that work iniquity Prov. 22.8 He that soweth iniquity shall reap vanity Psal 90.12 So teach us to number our dayes that we may apply our hearts to wisdome And 103.15 As for man his dayes are as grasse as a flower of the field so he flourisheth And 144. ver 4. Man is like to vanity his dayes are as a shadow that soon passeth away Heb. 3.7 To day if ye will hear his voice harden not your hearts Ver. 13. Exhort one another daily while it is called to day lest any of you be hardned through the deceitfullnesse of sinne Exod. 22.29 Thou shal not delay to offer the first of thy ripe fruits Psal 119.60 I made haste and delayed not to keep thy Commandements Job 11.23 14. If thou prepare thy heart and stretch out thy hands towards him if inquity be in thy hand put it farre away and let not wickednesse dwell in thy tabernacles Psal 119.137 140. Righteous art thou O Lord and upright are thy judgements thy Word is very pure therefore thy servant loveth it Psal 64.9 10. And all men shall fear and shall declare the works of God for they shall wisely consider of his doings The righteous shall be glad in the Lord and shall trust in him and all the upright in heart shall glory Jam. 4.14 Whereas you know not what shall be to morrow for what is your life it is even a vapour that appeareth for a little time and then vanisheth away Psal 89.48 What man is he that liveth and shall not see death shall he deliver his soul from the hand of the grave Prov. 14.32 The wicked is driven away in his wickedness but the righteous hath hope in his death INfancy the first Age is like passing through the red Sea in this is required patience this is our first footing into the wildernesse to which we passe through the bloudy sea of our distressed mother afflicting her with sorrow that first tells us of a land of rest And why should nature thus behave her self to seem ungratefull to her dearest nurce and Viper-like to kill and tear her damme it may be this because there is a dangerous wildernesse to passe through before we come to this Land of Promise and many by-wayes and broad pathes in it leading all to destruction and only one strait way and narrow path there is that leadeth to Canaan and hard it is and few there are that finde it and being once set down in this wandring desert if we misse this strait way and goe a deadly path woe is to us that ever we undertook it better had it been for us if we had not been born But as the losse is most sad so is the right ordering of our way and following this strait path most joyfull in the end for what are afflictions if through them we enter into the Kingdom of God of which the momentany afflictions of this life are not worthy and unlesse we undertake this journey unlesse we runne we cannot obtain we cannot have the prize the blisse This is the day of small things the beginning of dayes unto us the beginning of our pretious time so swift a steed that if he once passe we cannot bring him back therefore let us improve the time because the dayes are evill be very vigilant that it passe not in vain Some times there are which are taken from us some are stollen from us and others slip away from us but the shamefullest losse of time that may be is when it proceedeth from our own negligence We see a great part of time flitteth from all men very much from idle persons and the whole from those that love iniquity therefore ought we to put a great price upon time to esteeme of a day and to know that we dye daily for herein are we deceived because we suppose death to be far from us when the truth is death holds all our years in his possession therefore imbrace and lay hold on every houre So shalt thou be blessed in suspence for to morrow if thou fasten thy hands on to day whilest life is deferred it fleeteth therefore make good use of time while thou hast it for infinite are the waies that end it to thee It is a very evill thing to delay the performing of good duties in this life which is very short if thou wouldest fortifie provide against the pursuite of a powerfull enemy then more especially against the power of death it is more worthy to consummate life before death then to delay the living of a blessed life and death take us unprepared the greatest losse is the losse of time and the greatest grief when it is truly considered A good life consisteth not in the space but use of time whence it cometh to passe that he who hath lived longest hath often lived little or nothing As the heathen Philosopher wisely observed of one who neglected the improvement of his time Quod octoginta Annorum fuit septem tamen Annos tantum vixit accounting only that life which was spent with prudence and circumspection Consider when thou lyest down it may be thou shalt not rise when thou sleepest thou mayest not awake and when thou wakest thou mayst sleep no more Ut somnus mori is sic lectus imago sepulchri When thou goest forth thou maist not returne and when thou returnest thou maist goe forth no more there is not three fingers only betwixt the Mariner and death but in all places and at all times death and life are not farre asunder every where death shews not himself so nigh as nigh he is but live thou the life of the righteous and thou shalt surely die the death of the righteous which is the sure gain of eternall life in Jesus Christ our Lord. Train up a childe in the way he should go and
glory but confound his creatures Teach my endeavours Lord thy works to read That learning them in thee I may proceed Give then my reason that instructive sleight Whose weary wings may on thy hands still light Teach me to soar aloft yet ever so When near the Sunne to stoop again below Thus shall my humble feathers safely hover And though near earth more than the Heavens discover And then at last when home-ward I shall drive Richly with the spoiles of nature to my hive Then will I sit like that industrious fly Buzzing the praises which shall never die Till death abrupts them and succeeding glory Bids me go on in a more lasting story Naturall actions are much beyond our reason and Man is an epitome and compendium of all the terrestriall creatures There are two books that discover our Maker to us viz. holy Writ and Nature those which never heard of one have discovered him in the other the Almighty very much walketh in the path of reason when otherwise it is a miracle for nature is as it were the Art of God The absolute and incomprehensible providence of the Almighty is the disposing of all things that appoints our heirs and doth the works fasly ascribed to Fortune Blessed are those praying conquests of the objecting doubts in Divinity the devil will never end those disputes while we are in his Principality but while we build up our reason he endeavoureth to pull down our faith There are severall sorts of hainous blasphemies but an Atheist playes at all and at once denies there is a God I beleeve there is many an accepted faith which cannot endure fire and faggot and know not but Countries and particular persons too may have their tutelar and protecting Angels nor that the Saints departed may not know the passages of their friends on earth for that it is said at the conversion of a sinner the Angels of Heaven rejoyce for being that man is not only in the bulk and lump of the creatures but lives the life of plants animals and spirits it is a mighty priviledge and favour from our Creatour and may be a hierogliphyck of supernaturall knowledge The mistery of the Creation is very great but more particularly of man at the bare word the creatures were made of nothing but man was first made of earth and afterward the Image of his Maker by more sacred institution therefore he must not doate of life nor fear to die for to be too sensible of life and hopelesse of death becomes no man much lesse a Christian for although death soon layes our honour in the dust and changes us from commanding men into submission to the beasts yet we that is our souls are immortall and if not our own faults not subject to so vile allotment I cannot finde life worth the wish unlesse thereby we may serve our Maker and therein profit or promore our blessed eternity but if our sinnes grow numerous with our hours and so outgrow our despised repentance where is then that profit of our many years therefore it is that there is a secret end and bottom of our dayes his wisdome hath determined them his waking providence doth fulfill them wherein the spirits our selves and all the creatures of the Almighty in a secret and undisputed way perform his pleasure Another hand twines the thread of life than that of nature Lucan Victurosque Dei celant ni vivere durent Faelix essemori We' are all deluded vainly searching wayes To make us happy by the length of dayes For cunningly to make's protract this breath From us is hid the happinesse of death To avoid death in a miserable life is Christian fortitude it is a very great blessing that although the weakest hand may take away our life yet the strongest cannot deprive us of death for seeing this corrupted life cannot be without sinne happy is death that puts an end to it the devill therein was deceived for that his envy in bringing us into sinne hath by the Almighty mercy likewise brought upon us naturall death whereby we are freed and secured both from him and it Now our certain and eternall habitations are those incomprehensible scituations Heaven and Hell which none define or tell what and where they are a negative is the best we have bye hath not seen nor ear heard nor can mans heart conceive but Heaven may be the satisfaction to the soul wherein it desires neither addition nor alteration and the unsatisfied knowing appetite after vanity may be said a hell therefore let us fear the Almighty but not be afraid of shine let rather his mercies make us ashamed of our sinnes then his judgements afraid thereof I think few are scared into Heaven they goe the fairest way that would serve the Almighty without a Hell those mercenaries that crouch unto him for fear of Hell though they terme themselves the servants are indeed but the slaves of the Almighty The severall afflictions of the Saints are improved and doe prove the secret favours of the Almighty it is a singular piece of wisdome to distinguish the justice of the Almighty from his mercy and not miscall those his mighty attributes who is mercifull to all and better to the worst then the best deserve the most perfect actions on earth having no title or claim to Heaven for while we keep guard against one vice we commonly lye open to the attempts of another Acts 10.35 I like not that opinion which tieth salvation to the pale of any Church least we erre as much in our own as in another judgment We are commanded not to judg any but our selves and saving humility casts us lowest and will make us acknowledge our unworthinesse so much as to bring up the rear in Heaven Charity is a heavenly and absolute vertue the true effect whereof giveth Almes more out of obedience to the Almighty than out of commiseration on our brother for his sake that enjoynes it rather than for his that asks it He that relieveth out of bowels of compassion only doth it only for his own sake and perhaps because it may be his own case which is a sinister and politick charity this duty extends into all the wayes of doing good both to soul and body and by well instructing others upon an opportunity of charity we perform a double duty to be reservedly a niggard in this part of goodnesse is the most sordid piece of covetousnesse and in some sort more contemptible than pecuniary avarice No man can justly judge another because no man can justly know another nor truly himself Adams faith could not convince himself of murther untill Cain actually shewed it upon his brother A contemplative and solitary life avoideth many common and publike temptations yet hath the devill such advantage through our corruption that if we doe not withall valour and watchfullnesse resist both our selves and these allurements even in our most retired thoughts we shall thereby become the most abject piece of
comfort in this That his mercy endures for ever therefore rejoyce alwayes and in all things give thanks for that is the love of God to thee in Christ Jesus Isa 43.25 Thus saith the Lord I even I am he that putteth away thy iniquities for mine own sake and will not remember thy sinnes Isa 53.4 Fear not for thou shalt not be ashamed neither shalt thou be confounded for thou shalt not be put to shame yea thou shalt forget the shame of thy youth Ver. 7. For a little while have I forsaken thee but with great compassion will I gather thee Ver 8. For a moment in my anger I hid my face from thee for a little season but with everlasting mercy have I had compassion on thee saith the Lord thy redeemer Ver. 9. For this is unto me as the waters of Noah for as I have sworn that the waters of Noah should no more goe over the earth so have I sworn that I would not be angry with thee nor rebuke thee Ver. â—0 For the mountains shall remove and the hills shall fall down but my mercy shall not depart from thee neither shall the Covenant of my peace fall away saith the Lord that hath compassion on thee Ver. 13. And all thy children shall be taught of the Lord and much peace shall be to thy children Ver. 17. But all the weapons that are made against thee shall not prosper and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgement thou shalt condemne this is the heritage of the Lords servants and their righteousnesse is of me saith the Lord. Eph. 2.8 For by grace ye are saved through faith and that not of your selves it is the gift of God Sing praises unto the Lord ye his Saints and give thanks before the remembrance of his holinesse for he endureth but a while in his anger but in his favour is life weeping may abide at evening but joy cometh in the morning 1 Chron. 16.34 Praise the Lrod for he is good for his mercy endures for ever Ver. 41. And they were appointed to praise the Lord because his mercy endures for ever 2 Chron. 5.13 And they praised the Lord saying for he is good because his mercy lasteth for ever Chap. 7. ver 3. And they bowing themselves worshipped saying for he is good because his mercy lasteth for ever Ver. 6. And the Priests waited to praise the Lord because his mercy lasteth for ever Chap. 10. ver 21. And they went before the men of Arms saying Praise ye the Lord for his mercy lasteth for ever Ezra 3.11 Thus they sang when they gave praise unto the Lord For he is good for his mercy endures for ever Psal 118.4 Let them that fear the Lord say that his mercy endures for ever Psal 106.1 Praise the Lord because he is good for his mercy endures for ever Read Psal 136. Psal 117.12 For his loving kindnesse is great towards us and the truth of the Lord endures for ever Psal 138.8 Praise ye the Lord the Lord will perform his work towards me Psal 28.21 O Lord thy mercy endures for ever forsake not thou the works of thy hands forsake me not O Lord be not thou farre from me my God Psal 71.9 Cast me not off in the time of age forsake me not when my strength faileth Amen VIII A third Comfort in Death Thou maist rejoyce because blessed are they which die in the Lord even so saith the Spirit for they rest from their labours and their works follow them Rev. 14.13 Say thou with Paul Phil. 1.21 Christ is to me both in life and death advantage Ver. 22. And whether to live in the flesh were more profitable for me and what to chuse I know not Ver. 23. For I am greatly in doubt on both sides desiring to be loosed and to be with Christ which is best of all Eccl. 4.12 So I turned and considered all the oppressions that are wrought under the Sunne and behold the tears of the oppressed and none comforteth them and loe the strength is of the hand of them that oppresse them and none comforteth them wherefore I praised the dead which now are dead above the living which are yet alive Numb 23.10 Let me die the death of the righteous and let my last end be like unto his the death of the righteous is greatly to be desired Psal â—8 14 God is our God for ever an ever he shall be our guide unto death Psal 116.15 Pretious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his Saints Prov. 14.32 The wicked shall be cast away for his malice but the righteous hath hope in his death Love the Lord thy God and therein thou shalt have comfort and great joy in all conditions whatsoever for love is stronger then death and our God will destroy death for ever Isa 25.8 Hear with great joy the word of the Lord to them that love him Hoseah 13.14 I will redeem them from the power of the grave I will deliver them from death O death I will be thy death O grave I will be thy destruction repentance is hid from my eyes Rom. 5.10 For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Sonne much more being reconciled we shall be saved by his life Chap. 8. ver 2. For the Law of the spirit of life which is in Christ Jesus hath freed me from the Law of sinne and of death Psal 42.1 2. As the Hart brayeth for the rivers of waters so panteth my soul after thee O God My soul thirsteth for God even for the living God when shall I come and appear before the presence of God IX A fourth Comfort in Death Our Saviour Jesus died in pain farre greater then ours and also a most ignominious and shamefull death and all for our sinnes it were happy for us that we could imitate in some measure his sufferings for us because his purity in the least degree or part we cannot He suffered most freely for us contrary to the cry and call of our rebellions even at that time against him when he could have got as much honour in our condemnation and have been rescued from those sufferings by more then twelve legions of Angels He hath willingly suffered to parchace eternall life for us as we ought truly to beleeve Therefore this being his appointed Crosse for us let us take it up carry it and follow him therewith rejoycing that we through his mercy are accepted of him as worthy to obtain and doe his service much more may we rejoyce that we in his goodnesse should have promise to raign with him for ever Amen Besides our blessed Saviours incarnation in coming from his Throne of eternall God-head to take upon him the form of a servant his being laid in the manger not having whereon to rest his head his many weepings and sorrowings for the sinnes of the world Read with true sorrow and repentance that thy sinnes should cause him such a death
was gathered to his people And Chap. 49. ver 26. Jacob saith I am ready to be gathered to my people bury me with my fathers Observe There is no sign or shew of sorrow in him for he might well rejoyce to exchange earth for Heaven And Ver. 33. Then Jacob made an end of giving charge to his sonnes and plucked up his feet into the bed and gave up the ghost and was gathered to his people It is an infinite and an incomprehensible mercy of God that his love in Jesus is to call us in his good time from our disserving rather then serving of him here and that with thousands of fears cares and griefs to be gathered to his servants our fathers and nearest friends in peace XII A seventh Comfort in Death Rejoyce Because it is our entrance into the true communion of Saints By the Gospell we are joyned to the Angels and Patriarchs even in this life much more shall we be united to the true heavenly serving our eternall mercy with them when we shall cease from sinne Heb. 13.22 23. Ye are come to the mount Sion and to the City of the living God the celestiall Jerusalem and to the company of innumerable Angels and to the Congregation of the first-born which are written in Heaven And to God the Judg of all and to the spirits of just and perfect men Ver. 24. And to Jesus the mediator of the new Testament Col. 1.9 The Apostle saith For this cause we pray for you and do desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdome and spirituall understanding Ver. 10. That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing being fruitfull in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God Ver. 11. Stengthened with all might according to his glorious power unto all patience and long-suffering with joyfllunesse Ver. 12. Giving thanks unto the Father which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the Saints in light Ver. 13. Who hath delivered us from the power of darknesse and hath translated us into the Kingdome of his dear Sonne Ver. 14. In whom we have redemption through his blood even the forgivenesse of sinnes Ver. 15. Who is the Image of the invisible God the first-born of every creature Ver. 16. For by him were all things created that are in Heaven and that are in earth visible and invisible whether they be Thrones or Dominions or Principalities or Powers all things were created by him and for him Ver. 17. For he is before all things and by him all things consist Ver. 18. And he is the head of the body the Church who is the beginning the first-born from the dead that in all things he might have the preheminence Ver. 19. For it pleased the Father that in him should all fullnesse dwell Ver. 20. And having made peace through the blood of his crosse by him to reconcile all things unto himself by him I say whether they be things in earth or things in Heaven Ver. 21. And you that were sometimes alienated and enemies in your minde by wicked works yet now hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh through death to present you holy and unblameable and unreprovable in his sight 1 Thes 3.12 13. The Lord increase you and make you abound in love one towards another and towards all men to make your hearts stable and unblameable in holinesse before God even our Father at the coming of our Lord Iesus Christ with all his Saints Jude ver 14. Behold the Lord cometh with thousands of his Saints Rev. 7.9 I beheld saith the Apostle and behold a great multitude which no man could number of all Nations and kindreds and people and tongues stood before the Throne and before the Lambe clothed with long white robes and palmes in their hands Ver. 14. And an Elder said unto me These are they which came out of great tribulation and have washed their long robes and have made their long robes white in the blood of the Lambe Ver. 15. Therefore are they in the presence of the throne of God and serve him day and night in his Temple and he that sitteth on the throne will dwell amongst them Ver. 16. They shall hunger no more neither thirst any more neither shall the Sunne light on them neither any heat Ver. 17. For the Lambe which is in the midst of the Throne shall govern them and shall lead them unto the lively fountains of waters and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes XIII An eighth Comfort in Death Rejoyce Because it is our ceasing from sinne and the entrance into our eternall rest and peace Heb. 4.9 10. There remains therefore a rest for the people of God For he that is entred into his rest hath also ceased from his own works as God did from his Chap. 6. ver 20. Let us study therefore to enter into that rest least any fall through disobedience Into which peace the fore-runner is for us entred even Jesus that is made a High-Priest for ever after the order of Melchizedec Job 3.13 For so should I now have lyen and been quiet I should have slept then and been at rest Ver. 14. With the Kings and Counsellors of the earth which have builded themselves desolate places Ver. 17. The wicked have there ceased from their tyranny and there they that laboured valiantly are at rest Ver. 18. The prisoners rest together and hear not the voice of the oppressors Ver. 19. There are small and great and the servant is free from his Master XIV A ninth Comfort in Death Rejoyce Because it is our going to doe the will of God our most loving and mercifull Father in Jesus Christ without sinning against his most blessed and sacred Majesty In dying we doe the will of God Heb 9.27 For it is appointed to all men once to die and after that comes the judgement Rom. 6.7 For he that is dead is freed from sinne Joh. 14.28 When our Saviour had acquainted his Disciples of his departure from them by his passion they were sorrowfull For which our Saviour seemed to reprove them and said If ye loved me ye would rather rejoyce because I said I goe unto the Father for my Father is greater then I. XV. A tenth Comfort in Death It is the love of our good God unto us to take us away from the evill to come therefore rejoyce at this his gracious call of infinite mercy to that heavenly mansion which our blessed Saviour hath prepared for us in his Fathers house Joh. 14.2 In my Fathers house are many mansions or dwelling places if it were not so I would have told you I goe to prepare a place for you 1 King 11.11 12. The Lord said to Solomon I will surely rend the Kingdom from thee and will give it to thy servant Notwithstanding in thy dayes I will not doe it because of David thy Father but I will rent it out of the
vn autre fois ne craint d'y retourner Qui n' a la soy n' a rien Richesse de l'esprit ne peut jamais perdre Reprens autruy mais corrige toy mesme Repos d'esprit patience sont instrumens de la science Scavoir le mal est souuent proffitable mais en user est tousiours evitable Tout ce qui est au monde est vn ieu d'inconstance Tout ce qui prend naissance est perissable aussi Tel flurit aujourd'huy qui demain flestrira Tel flestrist aujourd'huy qui demain flurira Tant que l'ennemy vit l'guerre n' est pas morte Tout ce monde est douteux la seule heure deniere parfait nostre bon heur ou bien nostre misere Tout ainsi que le vent sans retourner s'en vole sans espoir de retour s' eschappe la parole Tout chose se passe rien seur ne demeure en ceste terre basse Trop parier nuist trop gratter cuist Tout c ' qui luist n' est pas or Une belle vie engendre belle mort Selah Wise and pious Sayings of the Ancients wherein is shown the way to Peace OFten meditate upon thy death Christs death the worlds deceit Heavens glory and Hells torments If thou knowest Christ well it is sufficient if other things thou knowest not If Christ thou knowest not it is nothing though every thing else thou knowest Thou canst not better tame thy luxurious flesh then well to premeditate what thou shalt be after death Then when we think our selves to be most miserable is God to us most favourable The body may be beautifull but the soule is farre more beautifull Beauty is the spectacle of the beauty divine To doe good to the poor deserveth double glory Give to him that asketh and let him not waite too long Banish all wicked persons from thy quarters The beauty of the body resembleth the Flower of the Spring Thrice happy is that sweet nurture which doth pollish and reforme corrupted nature That which was yesterday will not be to day That which one day giveth another day taketh away That which was is all things runne as a streame and There is nothing new under the Heavens Commonly all things doe retaine the nature of the place from whence they came Almighty God beateth those he loveth from the cradle to the grave Almighty God having strooken casts the rod in the fire Our good God beats us with a finger and not with his arme The Almighty distributeth his anger by weight and without weight his pity The Almighty hath his feet of wool and his arms of iron Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth often speaketh Of a few words comes a great effect Hearken to him that gives thee good counsell Give liberally of thy goods unto the poor sufferer For doing what we ought we need nor deserve no reward Doe as thou wouldest have done to thee He may well be called valiant which mastereth his own soul Keep close to wisdome and doe not depart from it Gain of riches often is the losse of Heaven Happy is he which desireth nothing Happy is he which is warned by the harmes of others Happy is he which can draw gain from his losse Hatred brings a man nothing but repentance There can be no perfection but after death One had better not speak than much speak There is nothing so certain as that a man must die and nothing so uncertain as the hour when There is no day so clear but hath some clouds There is nothing better then a contented minde There is nothing so certaine which cannot be changed betwixt morning and evening Never any mariner made a long voyage but he sailed both in fair weather and in foul It is hard to live well but very easie to die ill It is hard for him that liveth ill to die well Man purposes in earth but God disposeth in Heaven Heaven is not so soon attain'd as wished for Vertue flies the heart of the mercenary man A low soul may not judg of high matters Hell is in all places where God is not The anger and pity of God Almighty follow one the other The Sayler may suffer shipwrack at the haven The Rose flourisheth and withereth both to the same end Thunderbolts cast down the most high Towers A Shepheards cottage is alwayes without fear Repentance often followes short pleasures Time lost never is recovered Time flies away and never returnes A man in the morning flowes with riches who in the evening hath nothing left The flower of youth lasteth but a little while it then flieth away and never returnes A thread doth shew the weaknesse of our lives A true friend never dissembles The end crownes the work The threatning is very good which well adviseth us The least thing of what we know not is more great then all that we know Good counsell often assureth doubtfull things The Honour which one day gives another day taketh away A middle condition renders a man most happy Death followes us as the shadow the body Death doth as it were hold alwaies a knife to the throat To put Oyl to the fire is not the way to quench it To master the desires is true valour It is a very evill thing to desire and never to be content The day riseth in the morning for to let or die at night A negligent guard pleaseth the Wolfe A man is not happy till after his death We counsell others better then our selves Nurture exceedeth nature We hold in our hands neither yesterday nor to morrow One may lose the body in too much searching the spirit One may lose the spirit in overflattering the body To pardon and to save are the properties of God For the most part relapses are mortall For one pleasure a thousand sorrowes Patience exceeds knowledge Who is one time born must one time die Who loves for goods cannot be said to love He which hath but one eye had need of great care least he lose it He which seeth himself in a glasse seeth himself well He which seeth himself well knoweth himself well He which knowes himself well prizeth himself little He which prizeth himself little is wise He which will burn another mans house ought to have a great fear of his own When pride rideth before misery and disgrace followes after He which one time gives himself to doe evill willingly will not fear once and again to doe it He which hath not faith hath nothing Riches of the spirit can never be lost Reprove another but correct thy self A quiet spirit and patience are instruments of science To know evill is sometimes profitable but to use it is alwaies hurtfull All which is in the world is a game of inconstancy All that which taketh birth is perishable also That flourisheth to day which to morrow shall wither That withereth to day which to morrow shall flourish So long as the enemy liveth the warre
over man Pale death beateth alike upon poor mens cottages and the towers of Princes It pitieth not the poor nor spareth the rich It snatcheth away youth in the flower of their lives and spareth none All flesh is grasse and all the glory of it as the flower of the field Behold a grave and discern if thou canst the captive from the King the strong from the weak the faire from the deformed then be not proud Tell me where are those lovers of the world which were lately with us certainly nothing remains of them but ashes and wormes In all humility then my soul meditate often upon thy dissolution for he which humbleth himself shall be exalted A man when he is dead is changed and consumed and where is he Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord for so saith the spirit that they rest from their labours and their works follow them they neither hunger nor thirst c. Lazarus was carried of the Angels into Abrahams bosome that is he died in the Lord. Here we have no abiding City but we seek one to come Man that is born of a woman hath but a short time to live and full of sorrow he shooteth up as a flower and is cut down he flieth as a shadow and never continueth in the same condition I am a pilgrim and a stranger as all my fathers were The world passeth away and the lusts thereof Through many tribulations we must enter into the Kingdome of Heaven The just are oppressed that they may cry and crying may be heard I beseech you as pilgrims and strangers abstain from fleshly lusts which warre against the soul The present sufferings of this life are not worthy of the glory which shall be revealed in us Watch for you know not what hour your Lord will come Walk thou in wisdome and in right reason because a man in whatsoever he doth considereth the end and accordingly doth accommodate and dispose himself to the means that lead unto it Get wisdome therefore for it is more precious than gold The wisdome of the flesh is death but spirituall wisdome is life and peace It is appointed to all men once to die and after death comes the judgment The day of the Lord comes as a thief in the night Be thou watching if thou watch not I will come to thee as a thief and thou knowest not what houre I will come unto thee Man doth not know his end but as the Fishes are taken with a baite or hooke and the Birds are taken with netts and snares so is man taken in an evill time which is not known unto him Do not deferre to turn unto the Lord neither delay from day to day the reason is for suddenly his anger cometh and in his wrath he will destroy thee Blessed is that servant whom when the Lord cometh and knocketh he doth finde watching We die daily we chang daily and yet we do believe we are eternal Dust and ashes thou art and into them thou shalt returne If onely in this world we have hope we are of all men most miserable The Just shall shine as the Sunne in my Fathers Kingdome As Christ our Saviour rose from the dead so shall we also rise The Sonne of God came into this world that all which beleeve in him should not perish but have everlasting life I Would not have you ignorant concerning those which are at sleepe that you sorrow not as they which have no hope Better is the day of death then the day of birth I have praysed the dead above the living Death is the necessary guist of corrupted nature which is rather to be imbraced then avoided He which beleeveth in him which sent me hath eternall life and doth not come into Judgment But passeth from death to life When I am weake then I am strong Happy is the man that endureth temptations because that when he is tryed he shall receive the Crown of life which the Lord hath promised to them that love him Be ye mercifull as your Father which is in Heaven is mercifull be ye imitatours of God as dear Children A Christian ought not onely to beare the Name of Christ but the Similitude also of his manners For the Name of Christ is frustrate to him that onely doth imitate Christ in Name The mercilesse shall have justice without mercy Give to the poor and thou shalt have Treasure in Heaven He which hath mercy on the poor is blessed Blessed are the mercifull for they shall receive mercy Come ye blessed of my Father and enter into the Kingdome prepared for you from the creation of the world for I was hungry and ye gave me to eate c. In as much as you did it to one of these you did it to me From suddain and unprovided death good Lord deliver us He which liveth well cannot die ill nor he scarce die well that lives ill To you it is given not onely to beleeve in Christ but also to suffer for him I desire to be dissolved and to be with Christ Eye hath not seene nor eare heard neither can heart conceive the mercies prepared of God for them that love him What is there in this world can content the soul There is nothing the soul is content with nothing but God Our heart is unquiet untill it test in thee I shall be satisfied when thy glory doth appeare Almighty God made man that he might understand the chief good in understanding might love it in loving might possesse it and in possessing might enjoy it There is more joy in Heaven over one sinner that truly repenteth then over ninty nine just persons who need no repentance Jesus Chrst came into the world to save sinners His sins are forgiven him which are many because he loved much Now ye are no longer guests and strangers but ye are Citizens of the holy City and houshould of God Blessed is that servant whom the Lord when he cometh doth finde watching There is nothing hid which shall not be made known nor any thing secret which shall not be revealed Of that day no man knoweth no not the Angels of Heaven nor the Sonne of man So God judgeth thee as he findeth thee when he calleth Blessed is that servant whom the Lord when he cometh doth finde watching namely in a state of grace and not sleeping in his sins Prepare thy rightousnesse before judgement and before thou be sicke take Physick We love God because he first loved us The fear of God is the beginning of wisdome who feareth God doth good From the love of God we do receive the spirit of saving health As often as I consider the day of Judgment my whole body doth tremble whether I eat or drinke or whatsoever I do that terrible noise seemes alwaies to sound in my eares Arise ye dead and come to Judgment Enter not into judgment with thy servant O Lord for no flesh shall be justified in thy sight The just shall scarce be