theâ— But God tels them v. 18. That he would disaâ—â—ull their Covenant for the Lord bringeth the counsell of the heathen to â—ought and maketh the devises of the people of none â—ffect 2. Mans sin hath deserved it Gen. 2. 17. In the day thou â—â—test thereof thou shalt surely die Rom. 5 12. As by one man sin â—ntred into the world and death by sin so death passed upon all men for that all have sinned Rom 6. 23. 1 Cor. 15. 22. As in Adâ—m all die i. sin and death came upon all men 3. Man in his nature is mortall and corruptable as the Trees as therefore these however some of them as Oaks and the like live longer then others yet do all of them in time by age wither and die and none of them live for ever because they are of a dying nature so it is with men though some of them live longer then others yet experience shews uâ— that they all dye at one time or other Eccles 6. 6. 7. Though â—e live a thousand year◠〈◊〉 Do not all go to one place 4. Unlesse the body die it cannot be capable of that state to which it is ordained For the wicked man must have such a body as is fitted everlastingly to burn without consumption and the godly man must have such a body as is capable of the everlasting enjoyment of the glory of heaven which the present body cannot doe As therefore the seed which is â—own is not quickened unlesse it die so unlesse these bodies of the Saints die they cannot have those new bodies prepared for them which are bodies with new qualities 1 Cor. 15. 37 39 40 c. It is â—own in corruption it is raised in incorruption it is sowâ— in dishonour raised in glory sown in weaknesse raised in power sown a naturall raised a spirituall bodie The bodies of the Saints shall be then sound and of a nature that cannot corrupt glorious and comâ—ly without any deformity powerfull that is able to continue without the humane helps of meat drink and cloths without which they cannot new be kept they must put off their old ragged cloths of mortality if ever they mean to put on the princely â—obes of immortality and life 2. And thus God will have it and his providence hath disposed of it for the manifestation of his own glory the glory of his Justice in the punishment of mans sin the glory of his Truth in making good his word and the glory of his power in the resurrection of the bodies of men Io. 9. 3. 11. 39 40. It is needfull that we answer one objection ere we go further If death be Object the wages of sin and Christ hath given satisfaction for the sins of his people how comes it to passe that they die To this we answer 1. This objection may be made against all the afflictions Answer of Gods people 2. Christ never promised by his Word nor intended by his Death to free his people from afflictions and so from death but fâ—om the evill and hurt thereof onely and so he doth free his people from death insomuch as it is not now a curse but a blessing a token of Gods love and means of mans good Christ as he took not away sin it self but the guilt thereof so he took not away death it self but the sting thereof Revel 14. 13. Rom. 8. 28. Hebr. 12. verse 8. 10. Revel 3. verse 19. 1 Corinth 15 〈◊〉 56. If any man shall ask now when he must die We must answer him that we know not when for as there is nothing in iuest Qâ—â— Answer the world more certain then death so there is nothing more uncertain then the time when men shall die this God hath kept in his owne hands This only is certain that at the longest it will not be long for mans age is but short Psal 9. 5. As a hand breadth and as nothing before God Iob 14. 1 2. Man that is borne of a woman is of â—ew dayes c. He commeth forth like a flower and is cut downe He fleeth also as a shaddow and continueth not Psal 102. 11. 03. 15. 144. 4. Psal 89 47. Remember how short my time is Iob 7. 6 7. 20. 16. 22. Iam. 4 14. Esay 48 6. All flesh is grasse Psal 90 10. Isa man liâ—â— to 〈◊〉 or by reason of strength to 80. yet is it soone cut of and we 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And how much of this in thy life is spent already But perhaps thou mayest not live out halfe thy dayes for men like sheep die of all ages Psalm 55. 23 and this doth commonly fall out that the longer men think to live the lesse while they have to live 1 Thes 5. 3. Luke 12. â— 20. This pâ—ynt being cleared let us now see what use may be made of it Vse 1 And first it may serve us for exhortation to divers things and this two wayes First as having reference to our owne death Secondly as having reference to the death of others As having reference to our owne death it doth serve to exhort and perswade us to these things First to beleeve it let us beleeve it that we must die and that of all this world of men women and children now alive there will not after a few yeares one be left Scarcely will a man beleeve that seeth a great apple-tree thick of clusters that ever these will fall one by one and yet being ripe how soone will they be all dropt downe and gone So it is of men one generation passeth and another commeth Eccles. 1. 4. Secondly to think of it let us meditate and consider of this that we must die For however it may be thought a vaine and needlesse perswasion to perswade men to beleeve and think they shall die and every man will be ready to say he doth beleeve this and it is never out of his thought and who doth not so Yet it is more then manifest by most mens lives that they doe not so For doth that man that taketh nothing about him to defend him against â—oule weather beleeve he shall meet with it in his journey Doth he that makes no provision for a new beleeve he shall shortly be put out of his old house Doth he beleeve he must shortly put of his old that makes no provision for new cloathes Doth the Thâ—â—fe or Murderer beleeve there is a Prison and Gallâ—wes for Theeâ—es and Murderers whilst he doth kill or steale Or doth that Servant while he wasteth or spoileth his Masters goods or abuseth his follow Servants thinke of his Masters comming to call him to an account Nor doth he that neglecteth all the care of provision for another life thinke of it that he must shortly goe out of this life Can it be that the profane Scorner cruell Oppressor licentious Epicure or sâ—â—â—re Libertine should be perswaded that he must shortly die and after death come to judgement Hath he not rather with them in Esay 28. 15. made
OF THE FOURE LAST AND GREATEST THINGS Death Iudgement Heaven and Hell The Description of the Happinesse of Heaven and misery of Hell by way of Antithesis WITH The way or means to passe through Death and Judgement into Heaven and to avoid Hell By VVILLIAM SHEPHEARD Esquire Revel 21. 7 8. Hee that overcometh shall inherite all things And I will be his God And he shall be my Sonne But the fearfull and unbelieving and abhominable Murderers Whoremongers Sorcerers Idolaters and all Lyars shall have their part in the Lake which burneth with fire and brimstone which is the second death LONDON Printed by G. Dawson for Thomas Brewster and are to be sold at his Shop a little within Creed-lane neare the West end of Pauls at the signe of the three Bibles 1649. To the Right Honourable the Knights Citizens and Burgesses of the Commons House of PARLIAMENT Worthy Gentlemen WHen the World was shaken by Adams sin God secured it by the promise of his Son When Canaan was distressed by the Gen. 3. 15. Judg. 6. Midianites he sent his servant Gideon a Saviour to it Now England is distracted and her foundations out of course he hath raised you up the unwearied Worthies of our Nation to repair the breaches and settle the foundations thereof A work albeit very honourable yet as your selves have very well experimented very hardly accomplished For whaâ— from the rage of professed adversaries the inconstancy ingratitude ignorance and wilfulnes of seeming friends blinded with their own unruly passions whereby they have foolishly mistaken the men and their meaning Your selves have been somtimes by the mutinous distempers of the common multitude brought into great perill of destruction those whom you have saved who for your safety ought to have sacrificed themselves being willing to have you destroyed and sacâ—â—ficed But unsearchable providence hitherto your Sanctuary amidst these perils hath wheeled and driven on though in somwhat a dubious method your great Counsels through your adversaries attempts And it s often appearing for you and your Armies as from under a Cloud doth assure my self the many thousands that love and honour you that a work carryed on with so many hands and heaâ—ts so much prayer life and spirit so much faith and patience cannot by the rage of man which in all times hitherto hath praised Psal 76. 10. God be disappointed of its end And now Right honourable sith this providence hath given you in appearance some hope of a little breathing time I crave leave humbly to present you with this smal Treatise of the â—oâ—re last things Death Iudgement Hell and Heaven wherein are plainly but profitably handled things of highest concernment and therefore well becomming men of choisest imployments I know your wisdoms and piety need not be minded in whose presence you stand whose part in the managing of the weighty affairs of the Math. 12 16. Kingdom you act to what strength you are engaged for all your glorious and never to be forgotten deliverances Rom. 2. 6 and to whom ere long for the work you have done words you have spoken and ends you have had therein you must give an account You nâ—â—d not be minded that for every word you speak an account must be given by you who by speaking one word may make or mar a Kingdomâ— Wee need not tell you that it is a double crime which is committed under the sacred name of authority and greatnes that the sins of great ones in the pollitique are as dangerous as pestilent Feavers to the natural body Ps 82. 8. Shall we minde you Gods amongst men that you shall â—hâ—râ—v die like men and that impartiall Death knoweth no faces that Heaven is the reward of the righteous Tophet is prepared of old for Kings That you and we must all appear before â—he highest bar where all your judgments shall be rejudged your secrets discovered and your selves rendered responsable not onely for all the good you have not done but for the evill you have not hindred have we need to comfort you under your matchlesse labours and to tell you of Beds and rest at hand you know how to Esa 57. 2 arm your selves against Reproaches Censures and Slanders with the meditation of the day of Revelation when the Lord shall bring to light the hidden things of darknes Rom. 2. 5 1 Cor. 4. 5. Math. 10 â—â—â—â—6 and then shall every man that deserves it have praise of God And that there is nothing â—â—dâ— but shall bee then made knowâ— These generall truths and such like as these largely discuâ—â—ed in this Treatiâ—e albeit you do very well know already and are established in themâ— yet since the best of men to so easily forget them and are at some time or other to seek in them shall I beg leave in these few lines to become your remembrancer thereof The Lord hath many times Right Honourable remembred you in your low estate his people from all places are mindfull of you you have the blessing of many thousand prayers upon you you are engaged in as acceptable a service to God and good men as ever any Assembly was as great expectation there is from you as ever was from any Parliament of England and as likely you are to have opportunity to render your names renowned to succeeding generations as ever any Parliament of ours had There are still those amongst us that would again cast us into the Fire and Water Marke 9. 22. And we say to you our Masters help us save or else we perish If you can do any thing have compassion on this almost expired Kingdome the Lord grant you may keep back nothing from us that may do us good and that your own wayes ends wils and interests may be sâ—â—allowed up in that work you are called unto and that therein your motion may be like that of the Heavens intrinsical and from within swift with the primum mobile but slow with your own And if herein you may have any furtherance by these plain meditations it can be no dishonour to you but will be much honour and comfort to me who begging pardon for my boldnes and plainnes Pray that the God of Heaven will give you all such a spirit as is fearlesse of danger faithfull to your trust and succesfull in your great work Which will be the daily Prayer of Your most humble Servant WILLIAM SHEPHEARD To the Reader Christian Reader THou hast here presented to thy view a plain but profitable Treatise of the foure last things Death Judgement Hell and Heaven And these if they having respect to Saints or Sâ—nners wereever needfull and usefull then in this evil and peâ—ilous time wherein albeit the foundations of the world seem to shake and Heaven Luke â—â— â—â—â— 26. and Earth to bee passing away and alâ—eit there bee trouble â—mongst the Nations with perplexity the Sea and Waters roar insomuch as mens yea godly mens hearts faile for fear and
hath respect to two times First to all the time of amans life Secondly to the time a little before his death First all the time of a mans life Generally a man is to labour to be a new Creature by faith and repentance and to live a good life endeavouring to be better and better still and 〈◊〉 to be sure to do a good dayâ— work whilst he doth live for he that lives well cannot do amiâ—s and he that lives the life shall be sure to die the death of the righteous 2 Pet. 16. 7. 11 c. 2 Tim. 4. 7 8. 2 Pet. 3. 14. Gal. 6. 6. More especially we must labour for First peace with God in Christ and peace in our own Consciences Rom. 5. 1. 2 Pet 3. 14. Secondly the saving knowledge of God in Christ Ioâ— 17. 3. 3. A life regulated by Gods spirit and word Rom. 8. 14. Phil. 4. 7. There are degrees of life eternall and it is begun here the resurrection out of sin to holynesse of life is the beginning of eternall life Rev. 20. 6. Col. 1. 13. Gal. 2. 20. More particularly let us doe these things First let us get unto Christ by faith and thereby make our peace with God and get an assurance of a better life when this is at an end Rev. 14. 13. Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord i. in the faith of the Lord Jesus Christ 1 Cor. 15. 22. As in Adam all die so in Christ shall all be made alive i. As by Adam sin and death came over all so by Christ grace and life came to all beleevers 2 Pet. 3. 14. â—uke 2. 28 29. Now let thy â—ervant depart in peace for mine eyes have seene thy Salvation i. I doe willingly and chearfully leave this present life Heb. 11. 13. Ioh. 8. 24. He is the â—â—tter to leave his old when he knowes where to have a new and a beâ—â—r dwelling 2 Cor. 5. 1. 2. c. Secondly let us pray continually that God will fit us for death say with Moses Psal 9. 12. Lord teach me to number my dayes so as to apply my heart to wisedome Thirdly let us labour to mortifie our sinnes daily for here in lyeth the strength of death 1 Cor. 15. 56. For this purpose let us confesse it be humbled for it cry to God for pâ—rdon of and power against it and effectually apply by faith the death of Christ against it so shall we be sure that God will redeeme our souls from the power of the grave and receive us Psal 19. 15. Fourthly let us enure our selves to die by little and little that is not only live every houre as if we were dying but by our afflictions as lesser deaths prepare for our great death 1 Cor. 15. 3â— I die daily i. I am not only in danger of death daily but I doe thereby enure and prepare myself to die daily By undergoing a lesser we shall be prepared to undergoe a greater burden so men that are to run a large race prepare themselves for it by the running of a shorter race For this cause did Bilney the Martyr oft times before his burning put his little finger in the candle thereby the better to be prepared to suffer the burning of his whole body 2 Cor. 11. 23. 2 Cor. 1. 9 10. Fifthly let us alwayes watch and wayt for Christs comming to us in particular by our death that is shaking of security as we would shake of sleep let us take great heed that we not overcome by sin or Satan and looking always for death be in a dying posture and live every houre as if it were our last houre Iob. 14. 14. All the dayes of my appointed time I will wait till my change come Luk. 2. 25. Motives 1. It will be very profitable for us so to watch 2. It will be very dangerous for us to neglect it See Mat. 24. 42. to the end of that chapter and Mat. 25. 1. to verse 14. Sixthly let us be able to looke beyond death into heaven and the glory thereof Heb. 11. 25. 2 Cor. 5. 1. He will not care much to be turned out of the house he dwels in when he knows where to have a better house at hand to goe into Seventhly let us keep our hearts from being glued by overmuch love to the world or any thing in it for by how much the more we love by so much the more we shall grieve when we leave it 2 Sam. 18. 33. Eightly let us get as much of the tast of heaven here as we can that the sweetnesse thereof may make us more to desire the full fruition of it The preparation to be made a little before and at the time of a mans death lyeth in these things First to God-wâ—â—d Secondly to man-ward To God-ward â— If sicknesse goe before death we are the◠〈◊〉 to looke upon it as Gods hand and that for our sin Lam. 3. 39. Ioh. 5. 14. 1 Cor. 11. 20 21. and 30. 2. We are to labour to renew our saith and repentance and so to get a renewed assurance of Gods favour by an earnest seeking of him by prayer so David Psa 32. Psal 38. Psal 39. 2. To man-ward our selves and others when we be sick we are to call in help from the prayers and counsel of good people who are able to help us herein Mark 2. 4. Iam. 5. 14. Heb. 3. 1. 2. We are to use the best outward meanes we can for the recovery of our health 2 King 20. 7. Luk 1â— 3 4. Matt. 9. 12. 3. We are to set our house in order i. to make our will if it be not made before and give direction what we will have done after our death 2 Sam. 23. Gen. 25. 5 6. 4. We are as much as we may to endeavour to be reconciled to our Neighbours with whom we are at difference Matt. 5. 25. Rom. 12. 8. 5. We are to get and make use of all the comfortable meditations we can think of against the fear of death 6. If we be Magistrates or Ministers we are to do what we can to further the well ordering of the Common-wealth and Church after our death Deut. 32. 2. 1 Kings 2. 1. 2 Pet. 1. 5. In death it self or being about to die we are to give up our souls to God i. to his care and keeping being his by redemption Psal 31. 5. Luk. 23. 46. Acts 7. 59. And this we are to do 1. Beleevingly as Stephen Acts 7. â—6 59. died in the embracements of the Lord Jesus Christ and calling upon his name Iob. 13. 15 1 Sam. â—0 6. Heb. 11. 21. 22. 13. These 〈◊〉 in faith 2. Charitably so Stephen Acts. 7. 20. Lord â—ay not this sinne to their charge and Christ Luk. 23. 34. 〈◊〉 forgive them 3. Patiently 2 King 20. 2. Iam. 5. 7 8. 4. Obediently and submissively so Christ Matt. 26. 39. not as I will but as thou wilt Phil. 〈◊〉 defecta 〈◊〉 c. 2 8. Rom.
with looking after the Mat. 24. 12. things which are comming on the world yet iniquity doth abound and the whole Earth seemeth to be filled with Gen. 6. 11. violence and wickednes and most men live as if there were neither God nor Devil Heaven nor Hell It is true these things are continually sounding in our ears and is it not as true and wo and alas that it is so they do for the most part as soon passe through the ears of the hearer as from the mouth of the speakerâ— Whence Vox audita perit Amos 6. 3. else is it that wicked men approach to the seat of iniquity but that they put far from them the evill day Whence is it that they cry peace peace and sing a requiem to their Souls with the fool in the gospel but 1 Thess 5. 3. 2. that they forget that sudden destruction is at hand and Luk. 12. 19 20 this night their soules may bee taken from themâ— whence is it that good mens hearts shake so at the present Heb. â—2 27. â—8 shaking of things in the world but that they have forgotten the Kingdome that cannot be shakenâ— whence is it that the good and bad both slumber and watch not but that they have forgotten that the comming of the Lord is nigh and he will come as a Mat. 25. 1 2 3 c. Thief in the night And whence is it thaâ— there is such an overflowing of sin in the world but from hence that men think not enough of these things For the prevention and cure therefore of these epidemicall evils I have gathered and bound up together these heavenly truths as medicine made of many ingredients and give it you in writing And oh that now we could perswade you to turn aside from youâ—â—ageâ— Litera Scripta manet pursuit of earthly things and come and see what it is and try what it wiâ—l do And for this may we prevail with you to look into them and keep them as a signe upon your hands as fronâ—â—eâ—s between your eyes that you will write them on the posts of your houses and your gates or rather on the tables of your hearts that they being ever in your sight may be never out of Deut. 6. 6 7 8. your minde Remember and forget not that very shortly the grieâ—ly Serjeant Deaâ—h will aâ— rest you and clap you up in the Prison of the grave where you shal by and by heare the dreadfull voâ—ce of the last Tâ—umpâ— crying a wake ye dead and come to judgment look sometimes in at Hâ—ll gates and think of the wrath to come and at other times take a view of the Heavenly Canaan and walk a turn or two in the Paradice of God If the thought of one of these how much more shall the thought of them all make us apply our hearts to wisdome Thâ—se thoughts wâ—ll 〈◊〉 lesse much settle the hearts of Saint in this shaking time 1 Cor 15. 31. Psal 1. 1. 5. Mat. â— 15. Col. 1. 12. Deut 32. 39. make them active for God careful to 〈◊〉 their 〈◊〉 so that they may be alwayes ready to dye able to stand in the Judgment sure to escape the damnation of Hell and to be made meet for the inheritance of the Saints in heaven And oh that men were thus wise to understand this to consider their latter end Thy Christian friend W. S. Of the foure last and great things Death Judgement Heaven and Hell and the things that concern the same Of Death DOCTRINE All men must die or There is an unavoidable necessity of dying laid upon all men Hebr. 9. 27. It is appointed to men once to die Psal â—9 48. What man is he that liveth and shall not see death not a man Eccles 6. 6. Doe not all go to one place Job 30. 23. I know thou wiâ—â— bring me to death and to the house appointed for all living FOr the opening of this point we must say something to these three things First what this death whereof we speak is Secondly What necessity there is that all men must die this death Thirdly Wherefore this necessity is imposed upon mankinde and wherefore it is so For the first By death here we mean not the privation of our communion with God or the separation of soul and body from Gods favour in this world which is caused by sin and is called an alienation from the life of God or the second death or spirituall death Luke 1. 79. Ephes 2. 1 2 4. 18. or the separation of the whole man from Gods heavenly presence and glory to be punished with everlasting fire in Hell called eternall death or the perdition of soul and body in Hell or the second death And this is proper onely to wicked men and cannot touch the godly Rom. 6. 23. Revel 20. 6. 4. Rom. 8. 6. 2 Thess 1. 9. Matth. 10. 28. Rev. 2. 11. But by death in this place we intend the privation of the life of the body or the separation of the soul from the body for sin or the change of this mortall for an immortall life And this is called a bodily or worldly death or the first death And this death is common to all men good and bad Heb. 9. 27. 1 Cor. 15. 32. Gen. 5. 24. 35. This death is either naturall i. when a man liveth out his full daies and then dieth or violent i. when a mans death is hastened by some violent accident that a man doth kill himself or is killed by another Also it is said to be common and ordinary when it is by an ordinary or usual means or extraordinary when it is by some strange or unusuall mâ—ans Numb 16. 29. 〈◊〉 The necessity we here speak of is not absolute but limitâ—ed to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 For he may if he please dispense with his own Law and the penalty thereof and exempt some men from this common lot of mankind as once 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 who is said to be translated that he did not 〈◊〉 death Hebr. 11. 5. Gen. 5. 24. so afterwards Eliâ—h 2 Kings 2. 11. and as again he will do with those which shall be a live at Christs comming to judgement 1 Thess 4. 17. 1 Cor. 15. 51. Wâ— shall not all sleep but we shall all be changed But in an ordinary way God hath appointed to all men once to die and to this law of the King of Kings must all men young and old rich and poor without difference of necessity submit For the third thing 1. That it is so and must be so that all men must die these reasons may be given for it 1 God in his eternall counsell hath decreed it Heb. 9. 27. It is appointed to men once to die And his counsell standeth fast for ever and the thoughts of his heart unto all generations Psal 33. 11. Esay 46. 10. We read in â—say 28. 15. of some that had made a Covenant with death That it should not come â—igh
a Covenant with death that it shall not come nigh to him And doth he not say with them in Amoz 9. 10. evill shall not overtake me Albeit they see wise men die and likewise the foollish is it not their thought that their houses shall continue for ever Psal 42. 11. It is certain this lesson no man can learne till God teach it him otherwise Moses had not need in a time of mortallity when so many fell on his right hand and on his left hand to pray Psal 90. 12. Lord teach us to number our dayes It is a pâ—ant of Gods own planting in mans heart sadly and seriously to thinke and be perswaded of the vanity and shortnesse of mans life that it is but a Tale a Shaddow a Sleep a Race a Bubble a Smoak a Wind a Flower to think how many wayes and how easie a man may take his death that our life is short and much of it past already that the day of our death is at hand that our Sun is about to set that our Shaddow declineth and is ready to vanish that it is certain we must die but uncertain when we must die these and such like thoughts as these Gods spirit only suggesteth and the Devill with all his might opposeth Esay 28. 15. Luk 12. 19. Psal 30. 4 5. Let us then thinke of it that death is the common condition of mankind and that our selves are mortall and may and must die shortly and let us say with Barzillai 2 Sam. 19. 37. How long have I to live If it be asked How we must thinke of it We answer first daily and continually not once a week much lesse is once a moneth or once a yeare sufficient to entertain this meditation of death 1 Cor. 15. â—1 I die daily 2 Cor. 21. 23. in deaths often First death hangeth over my head continually and I doe incessantly prepare my self for it Psal 119. 109. Secondly seriously and sadly as of a thing that doth most of all concern us not cursorily scornfully or prophanely as the Gentles 1 Cor. 15. 32. Esay 22. 13. Let us eate and drinke for tomorrow we shall die Thirdly profitably so as to make some advantage thereby to our soules Psalm 90. 12. Teach us so to number our dayes as to apply our hearts to wisdome Fourthly let us thinke of it as neere and at the doores and not with those in Amoz 6. 3 and the evill servant Mat. 24. 28. as farre of as a thing delayed or prolonged Ezek. 12. 22. 11. 11. Prov. 7. 19. To quicken us up to this duty let us consider these things First this meditation of death will keepe the heart in a good frame First in a repenting frame Jon. 3. 4. 5. 6. c. Secondly in a patient and a contented frame Job 1. 21. 2 Sam. 12. 23. Thirdly in a sober frame towards the vain delights of this world we shall not easily be intemperate in the use of that we looke upon as perishing in the using Eccles. 6 11. 12. chap. â— â— 2. chap. 5. 9 10. 15. Fourthly in an humble frame for we will not be lifted up with any thing we have or thinke we have whilst we are perswaded we must shortly leave it Gen. 18. 27. Acts 14 15. 5. This will keep the heart in a watchfull and carefull temper 2 Cor. 5. 6. 9. 2 Tim. 4 5. 6. Secondly this meditation wil be a preservative unto us to keep us from doing evill and a spurr to provoke us to good Amoz 6. 3. 2 Tim. 4. 5. 2 Cor. 5 6 7. 2. Pet. 1. 13 14 15. Thirdly this meditation will make us to take care to provide for death and keep us from being surprised thereby unawares which will be dangerous to us Mat. 24. 48 49 50. Helps To help us in this meditation let us use these meanes First let us have our Coffins alwayes ready in our houses Remember to die Written in great Letters before us and if we may have our Sepulchers in our gardens Ioâ— 19. 41. Mat. 27. 57 58 59 60. Secondly let us read oft those Scriptures and Bookes that treat of mans mortallity Thirdly let us look often upon the examples of mortallity Eccles. 7. 4. It is better to goe to the house of mourning then to the house of feasting because this is the end of all men and â—â—e living will â—â—y it to heart Let us looke much on our dying and think much on our dead friends and say as David I shall goe to them Fourthly pray that God will mind us of it Psal 90. 12. Thirdly the third main duty we are from hence to be exhorted to is to prepare for death before it come we use to provide for a great journey when we are to undertake it a great while before and before we go out of one house we use to take care where we may have another And thâ—â— is great reason for this 1. because it is a needfull care 2. It is a wise care it is a high point of holy wisdome so to do and extreame folly to neglect it Pro. 10. 5. 3. It is a glorious care it will be much to the honour and praise of him that doth take it and to the shame and reproach of him that doth neglect it 4. It is a profitable care for this will much joy the heart and aswage the evill of death when it comes Fiftly we if we be found unprepared for death when it comes are undone for ever If you shall desire to know when this preparation must be made We answer this work of preparation for death being the work of a beleever must be set upon presently and without delay and may not be put of to the morrow much lesse to the time of old age or of or after mens death For 〈◊〉 although it be certain that a 〈◊〉 shall â—â—e yet it is uncertain when he shall die Secondly no man knows what a day may bring forth perhaps he may not have to morrows time to do it Thirdly he will be lesse â—it to morrow then he is to day Fourthly â—he latest preparation is never to late but the late preparation is seldome true Fifthly it will be hard late to do any thing to it when death comes for we shall be then most of all unfit for the work Sixtly old age is also a most unfit time for 〈◊〉 Eccles. 12. 1. 2. Seventhly when we come to dâ—â— we shall find it enough to doe that work it will therefore be our wisdome to have nothing else to do at that time but to die Eightly It will be too late to do any thing after death for there is then no time of amendment of any thing for as death leaves mâ—n so judgment will find them Ec. 9. 10. Ninthly we read but of one that did put of this care to the last and prospered in it and this instance is extraordinary If now you shall ask how this preparation must be made We answer It
14. 7 8. 5. And we are then like the Swan to endeavour to sing sweetest by our devout prayers and praises to God and gratious speeches to men So Iacob Gen. 49. David 2 Sam. 23 Christ Luke 23. 34. Stephen Acts 〈◊〉 56. Isaac Heb. 11. 22. Iob. Iob. 1. 21. we shall say somewhat more to this pâ—â—nt in the next branch which we are now to descend unto 4. The fourth thing we are to be exhorted unto from this doctrine of the necessity of dying is to make a virtue of this necessity and not to fear death but when we see our time is come to die let us resolutely patiently and willingly undergo â—t A naturall and moderate fear of it as it is an Enemy to nature 〈◊〉 be chaâ—ged as an evill upon us being no other but what was in the 〈◊〉 hâ—â—rt of Christ Jesus but an immoderate afflicting distracting fear of it is to be avoyded of all Christians And for the Cure hereof and our further fitting for death let us be well instructed in the nature thereof to a beleever as it is set forth in the Gospell wherein we have these considerations 1. That there is a necessity of it and it cannot be avoyded Psal 49. 7. 2. It is sanctiâ—ed and sweetned by Christs death so as it is not now a curse but a blessing a passage a departure a change of roomes a going out of a worse place into a better 3. Assoon as the body goeth out of this world it goeth to a place of rest where it shall be troubled no more and then Gods Covenant of peace shall be made good to it And to speak properly the beleeving Christian doth not die he lyeth down to sleep in his bed for his death is but the bodies going to bed and to sleep after the many labours of the day of this life are ended out of which he shall awake after the night of death is past at the morning of the râ—surrection to everlasting life and no sâ—oner is the soule out of the body then it is in possession thereof Esay 57. 2 3. The righteous are taken away c. he shall enter into peace they shall rest in their beds c. 2 King 32. 20. Thou shal s be gathered to thy fathers inâ—eace Matt. 9. 24. Acts 7. 60. He fell asleepe 4. The body by death is not reduced to nothing as the body of a beaâ—t is but it is only resolved to earth again where the â—otting of it is only to refine it that as the Corne which first diâ—â—h it may arise more glorious 1 Cor. 15. 36. Gen. 3. 19. So that death to the Saints is neither totall but of the body only nor perpetuall but for a time only Rom. 8. 10. 5. God is as much the God of the dead as of the living beleever Mat. 22. 34. God is not the God of the dead but of the living i. his Covenant is with them to make them happy in communicating to them grace life and glory and this Covenant is with the body as well as with the soul Rom. 14. 8. Whether we live or die we are the Lords 6. The body and soul of a beleever notwithstanding the death of the body is still a member of Christ Ephe. 5. 30. Rom. 14. 8. Death devides us not from God but brings us home to him 7. God hath the power of death and the grave and his providence doth dispose thereof and of everything therein and he will be with the beleever in this estate to support him under and deliver him out of it and to turn it to his good and he wâ—â— not leave him till he hath settled his soul and body in heaven Rev. 18. I have the Keyes of Hell and Death i. power to keep from or deliver to death Iude verse 9. Acts 4. 28. Psalm 16. 10. 11. Thou wiâ—â— not leave my Soule in grave nor suffer thiâ—â— holy one to see corruption Heb. 2. 14 15. Acts 2. 24. Psalm 116. 15. The death of his Saints is pretious to him 1. either God will preserve them from wicked hands or will sharply revenge their death on them that kill them Acts 20. 24. 2 Kings 1. 13. Psal 72. 14. 8. The death of the beleever cannot seperate his soul from Christs love to it or its love to Christ Iohn 11. 5. 20. 3. 1. Rom. 8. 38. 39. What shall sepâ—rate us from the love of Christ Shall death c. 9. Death reacheth to the body only and not to the soul Mat. 10. 28. Feare not them which kill the body but are not able to kill the Soule c. 10. By death God requireth again of us that soul he â—â—usted us with and every honest man will willingly deliver up his trust when it is required Eocles 12. 12. 11. The sting of death is now taken away to the beleever that it cannot hurt him 1 Cor. 15. 55. Buzze it may snake whose sting â—â— pulled out 1â— The Angels will be ready to receive and carry the beleevers sould into the presence of the God of peace in Heaven Luke 16. 22. 23. Death shall be destroyed and it is the last Enemy that shall be destroyed â—evel 20 v. 14. â— Câ—rinâ—h 15. v. 26. Rev. 20. 14. 14. The body of the beleever shall be gloriously raised after death to die no more for then death shall be swallowed up into victory and body and soul united and placed in eternall felicity for the soul being loosed out of prison the body may not be kept in prison 2 Cor. â— 1. Rev. 21. 4. 20. 13. 1 Thes 4. 13. Psalm 49. 14 15 16. 8 9. 1 Cor. 15. 43. Iohn 6. 39. Rom. 8. 11. To say all in one word death to the beleever makes a happy change and doth infinitly better his condition for it â—reeth him from all evill and puts him in possession of all good It â—reeth him from the evill of sin and punâ—â—â—ment felt and feared present and to come and puts an end to all his cares fears teares labours griefs combats with sin the world and the Devill for in death he gets beyond and above them all It is a passage and going from Aegyt to Canaan out of an old rotten house wherein a man hath no estate at all into a glorious Mansion and Kingly pallace of his own inheritance the going out of a base prison to a glorious liberty the return from a banishment to his own Country and home the comming to the haven after a long and dangerous voyage by sea It is a going to bed after a man hath laboured hard all day and is â—yred and weary It is a going from corruption to incorruption from mortallity to immortallity from death to life from earth to heaven from a miserable to a happy life It is the putting off a mans old ragged Cloathes to put on princely robes It is a loosing from the shore and a lanching out into the main to take possession of a Kingdome It is the
doore of Heaven the gaâ—e of Life the entrance into perfect peace and security the day break of eternall brightnesse It is the consummation of a mans victory the beginning of glory to be perfected at the day of Judgment Here the law of the fleâ—â— shall no more oppose the law of the mind Then shall be perfect rest settled peace a sure inheritance without any feeling of trouble or fear of lâ—sse Then shall be the buriall of all sinnes the raising of all virtues Then shall the soul fly out of the body as an Eagle above the Clouds where shall be neither nets nor snares to take it Who would fear or fly from this change Who would not be glad and desirous to embrace it 2 Cor. 5. 8. Esay 57. 1. 3. Ecâ—les 12. 7. The Spirit returneth to God that gave it being absent from the body we are present with the Lord. Rev. 14. 13. Blessed aâ—â— the dead that die in the Lord for they rest from their labours c. Phil. 1. 23. I desire to be dissolved and to be with Christ which is best of all Phil. 3. 20 21. Our Conversation is in heaven from whence we looke for the Saviour the Lord Iesus Christ who shall change our vile body that it may be fashioned like unto hiâ— glorious body and 1 Thes 4. 14. 17. Luke 16. 22. When Lazâ—â—â—â— died it is said the Angels carryed his soul into Abrahams bâ—some an allâ—sion as some would have it to the sweet delights and fellowship the Saints shall have with Abrham the father of the faithfull in Heaven as at a Feast whereat in the Eastern Countries they used to leane on one anothers breast Iohn 13. 23. others would have it a mâ—ta phâ—â— from Fathers who imbosome and hug their Children when wearied with long running about or have met with a knock and come crying to them By death the soul is marryed to Jesus Christ her dearest husband the which hath been here kept at a distance from him but then it shall be more neerly united to him and enjoy the beatificall vision of the Godhead the chiefest good and then is there but one step more and soul and body together shall have the compleat enjoyment thereof Then shall the beleever not only be brought into the bouse of his Father prepared from all eternity for him but he shall also there for ever have and enjoy the fellowship of all the blessed Saints and Angels and of his dearest frâ—inds who died in the Lord before him Heb. 6. 20. 1â— 23. 2 Sam. 12. 23. Who then would not be willing to die It is no maâ—â—ailâ— therefore iâ— Paul in the Contemplâ—tion or all these things desired to be dissolved Phil. 1. 23. and that the Saints desire to be uâ—clâ—thed of their house of clay 2 Cor. 5. 2. And that the wicked do so much desire to diâ— the death of the righteous Numb 23. 10. And that the Maityrs loved not their lives unto death Rev. 12. 11. Acts 20. 24. but refused deliverance from death when they might have had it Heb. 11. 35. they were as willing to die as to live Out of all this we may then conclude upon the beleevers death with Salomon Eccleâ—â— 7. 3. The â—a of death is better then the day of his birth But here it may be objected that death is a fruit of Gods curse the wages of â—â—n the destruction of nature and a bitter and dreadfull thing To which we answer thus It is bitter and dreadfull in it self but it is the way all flesh do go and Christ himself went into glory and the nature of it is now changed as we have already shewed the sting of it is gone and it cannot hurt us and it is sanctified and sweetned by the death of Christ who will be with us and enable us to endure it Esay 43. 2. Oh! but you will say I am affraid of a long and strong disease and a painfull death To this we say Perhaps it may be otherwise for some die with little some without any pain at all But if it be so either god will lessen the pain or greaten thy strength and comfort 2 Cor. 1. 5. 10. 13. And very long the disease cannot be It is but like one swallow of a bitter pill and be cuâ—ed of all diseases one thrust out at a narrow gate and we are out of prison it is but one wink and all is past 2 Cor. 4. 17. Oh! But some will say the grave which followes death at the heels is a dreadfull spectacle To this we answer That the grave shall be no other to the Saints but as a sweet bed wherein they shall sleep quietly and feel nothing Esay 57. 1. 3. And Christ the members of whose body they still continue to be will be there with them and bring them from thence into heaven Ephes. 5. 30. Psal 16. 9. 0. Fifthly The â—ifth thing to which we are to be perswaded is that since we must shortly die and by death be for ever seperated from our worldly enjoyments that we do not overmuch desire them before we have them not to much delight glory please and content our selves or trust in them when we have them nor much be grieved for them when we loose them Riches Honours Offices Authority Command Friends Pleasures and the rest what are they What can they do Matt. 6. 19 20. Lay not uâ— for your selves treasures on earth c. Jo 6. 27. Labour not for the meat which perisheth c. 1 Cor. 7. 29. Let them that have wives be as if they â—ad none 1 Tim. 6. 1â— Trust not in uncertain riches Psal 62. 10. If riches increase set not thine heart upon them Prov. 23. 4. Labour not to be rich But for the Cure of this consider these things 1. That all Silver Gold Pearls c. are but vile things Earth upon Earth Matth. 6. verse 19. Silver and Gold is but White and Yellow earth Pearls the guts and garbage of the Earth all of them but thick clay Hab. 2. 9. 2. Riches Honours and the rest reach no further then to this life Iob 17. 15 16. 3. They can do little for us while we have them they can procure us no spirituall or solid joy they cannot preserve or deliver us from any great evill Prov. 10. 2. Treasures of wickednesse profit nothing Prov. 11. 4. Riches profit not in the day of wrath Psal 49. 6 7. They that trust in their wealth c. none of them can by any means redeem his brother c. Luke 12. 15. 4. They are of a perishing vanishing nature they perish with the using they are but as heaps of Snow or Chasse they melt away between our singers as butter before the Sun and are gone we know not how they that lean upon and trust unto them are as men that trust to a hillâ—â—k of Yee or heap of Snow Psal 30. 6 7. Esay 40. 6. All flesh is grasse and the glory thereof as the flower
of the field Prov. 23. 9. Iob 38. 22. they are rather the shaddow and appearances of things then the things themselves 1 Cor. 7. 3â— The fashion of this world passeth away It is as one saith like the water of a river that runs by a City or as a fair picture drawn upon the Yee that melts away with it The pompe of this world is but a fantasie and the glory of it an opinion there is nothing of any firmnes or solid consistency in the creature it is but a surface outside or empty promise all the beauty of it is but a skin deep Psal 39. 6. Surely every man walketh in a vain shaddow i. he leadeth an imaginary life rather then a life it self It is but an igâ—is fatuus a walking fire that leads men into brakes and ditches so the hue of this world deceiveth and carâ—yeth them another way out of the right way for both the words and shews of the woâ—ld are full of fraud 5. That which is good and reall in it is as transitory as a hastie head-long river The posting â—un of all wordly pleasure after a short gleam of vain glistering sets in the Ocean of endlesse sorrow sic transit gloriâ— mundi 6 All these things are but a piece of vanitie Eccles 1. 3. vainitie of vanitiâ—s and all is vanitie i. most vain and exceeding full of vanitie it hath no continuance soliditie or profit in it but is full of unprofitable travaile and false deceit men come to the worlds felicitie as to a lotterie with heads full of hopes but return with hearts full of blanks 7 They are not onely vain but veâ—ing they do not only not satisfie but torture and torment the mind as the body is tormented being set on a raâ—k or bed of thorns the care of getting the fear of keeping and the grief of spending and loosing like three vultures do continually feed upon and â—at up the heart 1 Tim. 6. 10. Ephes 6. â—â— 5. 1â— Psal 127. 2. 8 They are most uncertain things 1 Tim. 6. 17. Trust not in uncertain riches Job 38. 22. For happily they may be taken from us and leave us before we die Prov. 23. 5. Wilt thou set thine eye upon that which is 〈◊〉 For riches certainly make themselves wings and fly away as an Eagle towards heaven Prov. 27 4. Riches are not for ever and doth the Crown endure to every generation But were we sure they could continuâ— with us we may not continue with them for our life itself is most uncertain this onely is certain that we must shortly die and leave all these things behinde us and go as naked out of the world as we came into the world Job 1. 21. Psal 49. 16 17. He shall take nothing away when he dieth neither shall his pomâ—â—â—â—scend after him Eccles 6. 11. and being once dead we shall live no more this life Iob 14. 14. If a man die shall belive again Yea let us be hence perswaded not much to desire or care for life it self but use it as if we used it not Let us desire it onely for Gods glory and his peoples good and so long as it may serve in order thereunto otherwise let us desire and choose rather to die Phil. 1. 23. Psal 10 2. 26. Esay 5. 17. 2 Pet. 3. 12. 6 The next thing to which we are to be exhorted is That since it is certain we must die and that we cannot tell how soon this may be and that after death there is no more time or place of doing good to our selves or others That from hence we be stirred up to be active and industrious in Gods service while we live as men that have much work to do work so much the faster by how much the neerer they see the night approach Gal. 6. 10 As we have then opportunitie let us do good Eccles 9. 10. All that thine hand shall finâ—e to doe doâ— it with all thy power for there is neither worke nor invention nor knowledge â—â—r wisdome in the grave whither thou goest Eccles 12. 1. Remember i know love fear and serve thy 〈◊〉 in the dayes of thy youth c. before dust return to dust verse 7. Death is the night whereâ—o no man can work old age the evening and latter part of the day when it is ill working To provoke us hereunto let us set before us 1. the example of good men 2. The examples of Devils and bad men Of good men Pâ—â—d 2 Tim. 4. 5. I am now ready to be offered and the time of my departing is at hand watch therefore c. Peter 2 Pet. 1. 10. 14 15. I shall not be negligent to put you alwayes in remembrance c. And I think it meet to stirre you up c. Seeing I know the time is at hand that I must lay down this my taâ—ernacle c. 2 Pet. 1. 5. Christ Luke 12. 31 32. Paul Acts 20. 28 25. The Devil also and wicked mee by how much the more short they doe perceive their time is by so much the more they doe bestir themselves to improve that time to ouâ— work the children of light in a quick dispatch of the works of darknes Rev. 12. 12. Luke 16. 4 5. Mat. 8. 29. And thus we have done with the exhortations deduced from this point as it hath reference to our own death Now there follows an exhortation draw from this point as it hath reference to the death of others And so it is usefull to exhort and perswade us to these things 1. As to our friends 2. as to our enemies As to our friends 1. living let us look upon and make use of them as mortall and dying friends and such as were born to die 1 Cor. 7. 29. Let them that have wives be as though they had none 2. Dead let us not mourn for them above measure and as without hope 1 Thes 4. 13. Against this disease let us applp a remedie by these considerations 1. be they good or bad friends that are dead it is Gods pleasure to have it so and this we must patiently abide Psal 90. 3. Ezech. 24. 5. 2. They must have died one time or other for man is born to die and cannot avoid it Iob 14. 1 2. 3. It may be we had them long and therefore we should be content now to let them go 4. They were â—ent us of God and there is great reason we should be content to let him have them again when he requires them 5. Our dead friends are not at all sensible of our grief 6. Our case herein is not singular but common to the Saints and to men 1 Pet. 5. 9. 7. This affliction cannot hinder Christs love 10. 11. 5. 8. Christ is sensible of our sorrow and mourneth with us 10. 11. 33 34. But if they be Saints that are departed there are some other things to be said for our quiet and comfort 9 They have made a blessed and happy change as we
so great gain certainly every man will think him so Should not a man rather sell all that he hath to gain this Matth. 13. And account all but durg in comparison of this Phil. 3 Jerome What saith the father fire gallowes c. All the torments of hell so I may enjoy the pleasures of heaven Who doth not then marvell at the wisdom of the men of this world rightly tearmed folly that embrace straw and contemn gold set their hearts upon that which is not and so greedily follow after shadowes and neglect that which is and let go enduring substances what folly and madnesse is this 2. Exhorta To divers duties 1 Let us labour to see know and beleeve this But you will say of this as of death is there any man alie that makes a question of this whether he shall die or whether there be a hell or a heaven or no Yes certainly it is more then manifest that most men doe not know nor beleeve this truth for if they did it is not possible they should live as they doe To know is to know by causes and for our selves and to apply to our selves and our own private profit what we know which is the knowledge we are pressed to in this place To beleeve because the God of truth hath said it in his word that there is a heaven to reward the righteous and a hell to punish the wicked that we must all die and after death come to judgement and to live so as those that expect such things 2 Pâ—t 3. 14. Wherefore beloved seeing that ye look for such things be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace without spot and blamelesse Let us consider it well spend many thoughts upon it enter into deep meditations of the inestimable glorie of it and view that heavenly Canaan well And to help us herein let us pray with the Apostle Ephes 1. 18. That we may be enlightened to see what is the riches and glory of this inheritance These things beleevingly thought upon will bring us much profit 1 They will expell other thoughts 2 They will keep us from sin we shall say then shall I sin and for a few base lusts loose such a place as heaven is 3 They will provoke us to good works and make them more easie to us 4 They will make us bear the crosse the more patiently as they did the Martyr who said well Though I have a sower breakfast I shall have a sweet supâ—â—â— 5 They will more inflame us with the love 〈◊〉 this felicity and consequently make us more to strive to attain it 2 In the second place this may exhort us to use the means and take the course to attain to this happy estate 2 To get assurance that we belong to this estate and shall come at the last to it For the first of these we are to see that we labour and strive to get into this golden citie where streets gates walls and all are gold and pearl Nay where pearl and all is but as mire and dirt and nothing worth 2 Pet. 3. 13. 14. And now and now onely is the time to do this And to move us hereunto we are to consider thâ—se things 1 It is a thing to be done heaven may be had if we seek after it Matth. 7. 7. 2 It is an excellent condition as we have shwed 3 It is an everlasting happy condition 4 Else we perish everlastingly If now you shall ask how you may attain or which way you may come to it we must answer you We must goe the way And herein there are 2 things 1 That we know the path that leadeth to this blessednesse 2 that we tread this path untill we do attain it As he that would goe to any place heere must first know and then go the way thither and not another way If you desire to be shewed this way we must first of all shew you that is the way that Gods word prescribeth that a man that will come to heaven must walk this is the King of kings high way Iames 2. 8. That leads to true blessednesse he then that means to come thither must be acquainted with the word of God both Law and Gospel And for that purpose he must be a diligent hearer reader and meditatour of it Psalm 1. Psalm 119. Iohn 〈◊〉 39. Acts 20. 32 And this is that that sheweth us the way it sheweth us Christ who is the way it gives us grace and makes us sit for glory this is as the starre that brought the wisemen to Christ See Matth. 7. 24. Rom. 10. 14. Ephe 4. 11 1 13. 2 Cor. 5 19. Heb. 1. 1. If you desire yet to be farther instructed in this point you must observe with us 3 things 1 some lets or hinderances that do keep men from heaven and the way which must be removed 2 Some helps and furtherances as provision for the journey that do help onwards in the way to heaven that must be used 3 the steps of this way it self The hinderances and impediments are many But to give you some 1 All sin in generall is a hinderance to mens attainment of true blessednesse for every sin is a step in the contrary way and leadeth towards hell But there are some speciall things that lâ—t as 1 Infâ—delitie the Jâ—ws could not enteâ— into the earthly Canaan because of their unbeleef Heb. 3. 19. And the Christian will be kept out of the heavenly Canaan by his unbeleef Iob. 3. 18. 2 Pride James 4 6. God refâ—â—teth â—e prâ—â—d When mâ—n are puffed up and 〈◊〉 so big with the conceit of their own externall oâ— internall worth they cannot get into heaven Matth. 19. 24. It is easier for a Caâ—â—ll to goe through the eye of anâ—â—dle c. 3. Trusting to a mans self and his own righteousnesse Rom. 10. 3 Gal. 2. 17. 4 A râ—misse and carelesse seeking of it men will not give enough for it he that would have heaven must go beyond all men Luke 13. 24. 5. Presumtuous security whereby a man is content in his present condition presuming all is well when it is not so Matth. 25. 43. 44. and v. in the parable of the â—ive â—â—â—lish virgins The helps and furtherances that must be used are 1 Resolution as a man that prepares for a journey doth gird up the loyns c 2 All the means and ordinances of grace And the spiritual traveler can no more go to heaven without the constant and conscionable use of thâ—se then a travaâ—ler here can go a great journey without a guide food and other provision for his journey These means are the Word and Sacraments prayer and the rest iâ— the Sanctification of the Sabbath all which being the means to beget increase and cheâ—â—â— grace which is he way and means to attain to glorie must be carefully and constantly used of all those thâ—t look to â—â—me to glory Ioâ—nâ— 6. 24. Actâ— 20. 32. Iohn 5. 29. Rom. 10.