victory Deaths commission and power is taken away it comes not as a penal and judicial evil to the Saints not as a part of the curse but a remain of the cross an evil of affliction sanctified and eminently conducing to their good hence the Apostle gloryes over it not in a way of proud insulting but in an humble triumph of faith in God through Christ which plainly argues death as to him and all believers was spoiled of its power Hence we may take up these two Doctrines of just and weighty Observation Doct. 1. That there is a sore and grievous Sting in natural Death or natural Death is armed by Sin with a sore and grievous Sting Doct. 2. That the Sting of Death is certainly and infallibly taken out so that it cannot really hurt prejudice or annoy true Believers These two Doctrines doe contain the true meaning and intent of the Apostle in these words 1. That there is a sore and grievous Sting in natural Death This lies first in our way Never shall we see our deliverance fully till we see our danger nor be sensible of the excellent remedy till we have felt the smart of the fore hence many men out of stupidity or a wilful slighting or refusing to mind their death their last end have made too light a matter of it but of a truth when death comes armed by sin with an high Commission from the Law it will be found to be piercing painful and poysonous I shall therefore in the first place endeavour to shew more particularly what the Sting of Death is before I come to shew how it is taken out 〈◊〉 â—â—ow there are several Stings in Death 1. The first sting in death is that it came into the world through mans own fault Rom. 5.12 By one man sin entered and death by sin and death passed upon all men c. It is sin brought in death as a curse and punishment Death comes from God not as instituting the course of Nature at first but as revenging sin There is a Saying in Ecclsiasticus that God did not make Death true it is not a Creature but the destruction of the Creature God is not the peccant cause of the falling of this house of clay but our sin as Eccles 10.18 It s plain in the tenor of the first threatning Gen. 2.17 They are Malefactors that are sentenced aâ— judged and condemned to die Every sinner dyes as a Malefactor as an evil doer suffering for his own sin And truely it pierceth deep if a man consider that he fetcht the Viper out of the snow and nourished it in his own bosome which now doth sting and devour him When a man must say In me convertite ferrum mea caedes mea fraus omnis When it shall be told him as Jer. 2.19 Thine own wickedness shall correct thee And as Jer. 4.18 thy way and doings have procured these things unto thee this is thy wickedness We like the foolish woman Prov. 14.1 pull down the house over our heads with our own hands Before we feel the burthen of sin our own will to it is our warrant for it and because our selves have done it we can easily excuse it but at last it will sting like an Adder This will double the burthen this will be enough to silence any sufferer in this last execution of Justice upon him i.e. in this life This consideration will devolve all the load upon our selves Who shall relieve us Who shall grieve for us Whom shall we blame but even leave our complaint upon our selves 2. Another Sting in Death is that it comes from the Wrath of God Psal 78.50 He made a way to his anger and spared not their soul from death God takes away the wicked in his wrath Psal 58.9 Death is his destroying Angel that chaseth them out of the world There are two thing in a curse or punishment 1. Something that is evil some oppressing evil 2. The wrath of God mixt with it Now death is a part of the curse now this is piercing and painful indeed for a man to be taken away in wrath Sinners in Sion are afraid and a fearful thing it is to tall into the hands of the Living God 3. Another sting in death is that it is the punishment due to sin It comes armed therefore with a Commission to take satisfaction for of sence and wrong done to the infinite God It is the wages of sin Rom. 6. ult We were bound upon peril of our lives and on pain of death to keep Gods Law Gen. 2.17 In the day thou catest thereof thou shalt surely dye that being broken death ensues and seizeth on us as our punishment So v. 22. of this Chapter In Adam all aye Sin and punishment goe together When the body of sin goes before Punishment as its shadow attends it When Eve brought forth a son she was brought a bed of death according to the Proverb Ex malo Corvo malum Ovum The Jews have a Saying There was never any punishment hapned to them but there was anounce of the golden calf in it So there is no death but there are some drachmes of sin in it The lively Image of Sin is ever to be seen in Death Would you see the sad influence that moisture hath upon iron Look upon the rust of it Would you see the horrid evil of drunkenness Look upon the effects of it Prov. 23.29 Who hath woe who hath sorrow Who hath contention Who hath babling Who hath wounds without cause Who hath redness of eyes v. 30. They that tarry long at the wine they that goe to seck mixt wine So here Who hath shortness of breath a pale countenance a crazy body Catarrhs Epilepsies Palsyes c They that continue in sin Why doth the living man complain Lam. 3.39 A man for the punishment of his sin This stings pains and pierceth the sinner when death comes 4. Another sting in death is that it separates the soul and body each from other These antient friends whose lives and happiness here as Jacobs was in Benjamins Gen. 44.30 lare bound up in one anothers welfare Will ye take Benjamin away All these things are against me If mischief befal him then shall ye bring down my grey hairs with sorrow to the grave Gen. 42 36 38. So may the body which is so closly wedded and so dearly affected to the soul say If ye take away my soul you take away my life As it is reported of Madrian the Emperour when he was dying he thus trembling at the gastly countenance of the King of Terrors bespake his miserable soul Animula vagula blandula Hospes Comesque corporis Quoe nune abibit in loca Pallidula rigida nudula Nec ut soles dabis Jocos O thou little pleasant wandring soul the guess and companion of the body 〈◊〉 what place will it goe c. So hard did he find it for these two friends to part If it be so hard for a man to part
THE STING OF DEATH AND DEATH VNSTVNG DELIVERED IN TWO SERMONS In which is shewed The Misery of the Death of those that dye in their Sins out of Christ and the Blessedness of theirs that Dye in the Lord. Preached on the occasion of the Death of the truely noble and virtuous The Lady Mildmay By LEONARD HOAR M. D. Sometime Preacher of Gods Word in Waustead Psal 49.14 Like sheep they are laid in the grave death shall feed on them and the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning and their beauty shall consume in the grave from their dwelling Eccles 2.13 14. But it shall not be well with the wicked neither shall he prolong his dayes which are as a shadow because he feareth not before God Ver. 14. There is a vanity which is done upon the earth that there be just men unto whom it hapneth according to the work of the wicked again there be wicked men to whom it hapneth according to the work of the righteous I said that this also is vanity Isa 3.10 11 Say ye to the righteous that it shall be well with him for they shall eat the fruit of their doings Ver. 11. Wo unto the wicked it shall be ill with him for the reward of his hands shall be given him Psal 18.14 For this God is our God for ever and ever and he will be our guide even unto death Rev. 2.10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer behold the devil shall cast some of you into prison that ye may be tryed and ye shall have tribulation ten dayes be thou faithful unto death and I will give thee a crown of life Boston Printed by John Foster 1680. To Mris. Bridget Usher my ever honoured Aunt MADAM I Know you are no Stranger in the dayes of your Pilgrimage to the late and present rouling posture of the wheels of Providence you have seen the times tempestuous and perilous and God who is the great Soveraign hath seen good to bring an instance of the evil of this time home to your Person and Family It s good for your self with all other Relations that yet survive to look at the supream Disposer when the rongs of the wheels are high and dreadful to eye him him that sits upon the Throne When Israel was as a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit it s he that called her to it Isa 54. There is no Staff of indignation in the hand of Providence but it is grounded in the eternal Decree And what if God willing that this or that or the other friend or relation be made as it were a gazing stook to Angels and Men through afflictions and reproaches Who shall reply It s lawful for him to do what he will with his own Mat. 20.15 Why dost thou strive against him saith Elibu Job 23.13 He giveth no account of his matters It s the duty of all friends to sanctify God in his soveraign Dispose and with Aaron to hold their peace not to repine or murmure at the dispensation of God to submit to his holy and soveraign will in this matter The great difficulty and that which is most studiously to be avoided is not to be scandalized nor to have our minds any wayes damaged or discouraged in the course of our obedience nor alienated from the Church and People and Servants of God when such instances occurr that men upright with God and walk close with him fall under such great afflictions not to think strange of the fiery Tryal nor the worse of holy obedience and the service of God this I say is a great and hard Task and when there are such accidents falling out friends receiving such deadly wounds in the house of their friends not to be exasperated nor violate the Rules of Charity but to rest in Love towards them is another hard Task This is the Task and duty incumbent upon you at this time and herein I know in some me asure as things have been circumstanced what need all that were nearly Related and dearly Affected to him that is gone I say I know what need they have of Caution It is a notable observation of Mr. Strong The will of man subordinated to the Will of God p. 289. There are as great shares of Satan and as great Judgements of God laid in Scandals as in any thing in the world besides And he adds It is an Observation much to be considered That if Satan would instil any evil pression into the hearts of men concerning any Truth of God I may adde a 〈◊〉 as well against any of the Wayes Churches Servants and People of God he doth usually bring it in by some providence of God that they take offence at As he instanceth in the Gaderens Mat. 8.31 The Devil desires to exasperate their spirits against Christ and he will doe it by drowning their hoggs I am very sensible in the Sufferings and Death of your deservedly honoured Companion and guide of youth there was that which except God give your self and all other friends much Wisdom and Grace to ballance their spirits the Devil may improve it to work a Prejudice of spirit against the Civil Government Churches Schools of Learning against the holy wayes and the Servants and Saints of God Pardon me Madam if I stay here knowing what a Narrow this is and earnestly request you for the Lords sake that you labour to guard your spirit and mind against this evil I know full well with what Magnanimity and undauntedness of spirit you passed through the gun-shot and the heat of the day but I beseech you don 't now stand at a distance from the Communion of the Churches and People of God lest Satan get advantage for we are not ignorant of his Devices The best Remedy against it is 1. A sincere meek and quiet submission to the soveraign holy Will of God this will quiet our spirits so that Satan can't disturb them All the motions of our souls are excentrick disordered till they come to this Subordination we are open to the storms and fiery darts of hell if not anchored in this Harbour 2. An intire and ardent Love to God his Churches Servants and People If Love be interrupted Satan has great Advantage of us Qui satis deligunt non cite offenduntur Salv. Epist 1. They that love much and enough will not be soon offended A brave Christ-like spirit it is to bury and pass by real and supposed injuryes and a great duty and concernment it is to live and dye in Charity If I mistake not it was your design in coming into this Wilderness that you might lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty And although you have met with so great a tryal as you have yet the Interest of God the Government the Order of the Churches the Truths and wayes the Servants and Saints of God and Communion with and in these is as sweet and precious as ever I would not be
humbly with their God to watch and pray They that are fit to dye they are and will be fit for any service that God calls them to Paul prepared for Death and willing to dye is fit to continue and abide with the Churches and to be eminently useful for their furtherance and joy of Truth Phil. 1.25 There are solemn exercising Changes foretold by the fearful signs of this time if we are prepared for Death we are armed against the worst and to endure the greatest affliction that can betide us on this side Death Acts 21.13 Paul being ready to dye is ready for bonds and imprisonment at Jerusalem O how comfortable a thing is it to be ready to doe and suffer any thing for the Name of Christ But not to insist longer here If we would be prepared for Death 1. Be and live in the daily and lively exercise of Repentance It is Sin that makes Death bitter and terrible to the sons of men Be thorough and serious in Repentance for sin Let no sin lye unrepented of This was Pauls practice while he lived to exercise himself to have a Conscience void of offence Acts 24.16 Not but that he had to charge himself with and which Conscience might accuse him of yea but he cleared all Reckonings between God and himself by a lively renewed exercise of Repentance Pass not a day without a serious and close review of your actions and wayes and without deep searchings of heart and repentings for all your errors and violations of Gods holy Law and your Rebellion against the Gospel Give diligence to be found of God in peace and this will make the time of Death and Judgement times of refreshing Act. 3.19 If you can allow and live in any known sin if you can digest sin without great bitterness sorrow of a surety you are not prepared for this Change 2. Believe to the saving of your Souls Believe on the Name of the Lord Jesus To dye in truth is to dye comfortably it easeth and looseth the pains of Death This is the way to dye in the Lord Rev 14.13 and to sleep in Jesus 1 Cor. 15.18 i. e. in union with God in Christ They that dye in Christ will die in Peace and be sound of God in peace for there is no condemnation to such Rom. 8.1 And the blood of Christ also cleanseth Believers from all sin now it is a blessed thing to be free from the guilt of sin and to have our consciences purified in the blood of Christ this will prepare us for an happy and comfortable Death Now it s the Son only that can make us free in this matter and that must be in a way of union with Christ by Faith O believe in the Lord Jesus he oft and constant in the renewed exercise of Faith as it is said of Abraham Gen. 15.6 He believed Though he believed long before that when he answered the call of God Heb. 11.8 The Apostle tells us By Faith Abraham when he was called obeyed and yet after this its said He believed as if he had not believed before 3. Be throughly mortified to the world Get your Affections crucified to the honours pleasures and profits of this life Weep as though you wept not Rejoyce as though you rejoyced not Buy as though you possessed not Vse this world as not abusing it as the Apostle exhorts 1 Cor. 7.30 31. When this or that aâ—urement of the world bids high and sollicits strongly for your affections then think with old Barzilloi How long have I to live O my friends God forbid that you should glory save in the Cross of Christ If you are Christ's then crucifie the flesh with its whole Train of carnal and sensual Lusts these corrupt the judgement and put a false varnish upon the things of the world It is a dreadfull sign upon any soul to love the world it undeniably evinceth that the love of the Father is not in him 1 Job 2.15 And he that is destitute of the love of the Father is not fit to dy He shall never be received into the everlasting Kingdome that is totally destitute of the Love of God O then mortifie and purge out all inordinate affection to the world and the things of this life whatever you doe get your hearts dead to the Sins Gallantryes and Jollityes of this time 4. Live to the Lord Serve your Generation this is the way to dye unto the Lord and in death to be the Lords Rom. 14. The comforts of a well compleated coâ—â—â—â— of life and service to God therein will give as a serene and quiet frame of spâ—â—â—â— in Death I am ready to be offered up and the time of my departure is at hand 〈◊〉 comes he to be thus ready I have finished my course saith he 1 Tim. 4.6 7. 〈◊〉 the labouring Saints and Servants of Christ Death is but a Dismission to Rest So it was to David Acts 13.36 and to Daniel Dan. 12. ult Doe much for God while you live Death will be then sweet and comfortable to you Especially consider and put forth acts of charity and bounty to Christ's poor ones 5. Secure a firm Vnion with Christ that you may dye in the Lord and sleep 〈◊〉 Jesus It hath pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell Col. 1.18 In hiâ—â— there is a full supply of Grace to enable you to live and dye to doe and sufferâ—â— whatever he calls you to now if you are Partakers of Christ have mystical union with him then by the almighty power and working of the holy Spirit you shall have a full supply of all Grace and ability to increase those Graces in Death which are necessary for your comfort an I security in such an hour 6. Number your Dayes yea so number your dayes as Psal 90.12 General Conclusions concerning Death should be enforced upon our hearts by particular application The brevity of Life the certainty of Death and the uncertainty of the time of Death should be thus enforced upon our hearts I know thou wilt bring me to Death Job 30.23 So Eliphaz tells him he shall come to his Grave Job 5.26 27. Hear know it for thy good Lastly Pray to God to prepare and fit you for Death as David Psal 39.4 Lord make me to know my end and the measure of my dayes So Moses applyes himself to God Psal 90.12 in a sence of his own inability to learn Thus in a few words have I desired to discharge something of that great care which bears strongly upon my heart if God shall help us to fall on and seriously to practise this great lesson then our Death will be but a loosing from this troublesome Shore and however various our Course and the season of our departure hence are yet our meeting and Mansion with Christ in his Fathers House shall be sure and everlasting which that it may be is and shall be the Prayer of Madam your most obliged Kinsman
Josiah Flint Dorchester from my Study 7th of 5th 1680. DEATH DISARMED BEING A Funeral Sermon Upon 1 Cor. 15.55 O Death where is thy Sting O Grave where is thy Victory THE great Article of the Resurrection of the Dead is the Subject of the Apostles Discourse in this Chapter a Doctrine by the Jews denyed by the Gentiles derided as Acts 17.8 They â—â—â—ffed at Paul because he preached Jesus and the Resurrection from the Dead This as a great Subject and fundamental Article of Religion of which some in the Church of Corinth doubted or else denied it the Apostle labours from several Topicks to prove 1. From the common Testimony or joynt Witness of all the Apostles as having seen and bearing Testimony unto the Resurrection of Christ v. 4 c. to 9. 2. From that Faith whereby these Corinthians did formerly entertain this Doctrine v. â—1 3. From the Perfection of the Gospel which contains this among others of the fundamental Doctrines to be known and believed v. 12. 4. From the Resurrection of Christ who rose as a publick Person v. 13. c. He is the first fruits of them that sleep v. 20. and 23. whence he is called the first born of the Dead Col. 1.18 Rev 1.5 And the first begotten of the Dead in respect of order and causality 5. From the many absurdityes that would follow if there were no Resurrection as 1. Then the Apostles Preaching and Miniâ—try was in vain v. 14. 2. Then the Faith of the believing Corinthians was in vain ibid. 3. Then the Apostles were false Witnesses of God ver Ver. 16. 4. Then those that believe Justification by the Resurrection of Christ are deceived v. 16. 5. Then they that are dead are lost i.e. damned totally and finally lost even those that are dead in Christ v. 18 6. Then the hope of Believers is in vain v. 19. 6. From the Signification of some Christian Rites v. 29. in which the Apostle alluâ—es to the custome used Acts 9.37 It was the custom not only of the Jews and more prudent moralized Nations but of the Christians also to wash and anoint the Bodies of the dead which sprung from a natural instinct and hope of a future Resurrection as Onâ— faith on the place 7. From the Sufferings of Believers v. 30. c. Lastly From the easie solution of all Arguments Allegations and Objections to the contrary v. 35. c. Now the Apostle together with this proof doth also illustrate and amplifie the Truth shewing the glorious consequents of the Resurrection as the resignation of the Mediatory Kingdome to the Father by the Lord Jesus and the glorious state of Believers after the Resurrection When the whole Army of Saints shall follow Christ the Captain of their Salvation in their own Order and the whole Rout of Sinners ungodly men shall stand bound before him Christ shall lead forth his own Souldiers victoriously and gloriously dragging the Herd of his spoyled Enemies opprobriously after him Dan. 12.2 And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake some to everlasting life and some to everlasting contempt He shall receive his Church into the nearest embraces of Love he shall reioyce over her with singing he shall rest in his Love each believing Soul shall be raised changed made immortal and glorious As the Sun riseth from under clogging Mists and obscuring Clouds so shall they be exalted unto heaven and there shine with an high-noon glory Dan. 12.3 And they that be wise shall shine as the brightâ—â—â— of the Firmament and they that turn many to righteousness as the Stars â—â—â—er and ever then v. 54. Death is swallowed up in victory In this Verse in allusion to the words of the Prophet Hosea Hos 13. 〈◊〉 O Death I will be thy plague O Grave I will be thy destruction the Apostle sounds the Triumph O Death where is thy Sting O Grave â—â—eye as thy Victory Such was the Apostles confidence God-ward that 〈◊〉 dare what he afore dreaded and handle the Viper he could not â—uch before To make way for the Doctrine it is necessary to enquire 1. What is meant by Death Answ By Death we are to understand natural or bodily Death It is the Resolution of the body into its first principles by and upon the Seperation of the Soul from it which is the close of this life and the beginning of another There is a twofold consideration of Death as learned Paraeus notes on v 53. 1. There is a general and meer natural consideration of Death and so it happens not only to man but to all Creatures living 2. A Theological consideration of it as it is inflicted by the just punishing hand of God and is a part of the curse and so it is a miserable privation of Life and so it is to be considered here as a judicial penal evil and so armed with its sting it is the greatest evil in the world 2. What are we to understand by the Sting of Death Answ 1. The ground-work is Metaphorical the Apostle herein alluding to venomous Creatures as snakes serpents and vipers who are by nature armed with a sting for offence and defence so Death hath something in it offensive until it be removed A Sting at least in common account is the chief subject of venome and the instrument whereby venomous creatures pierce others and convey their poyson into them so as to fill them with pain and anguish 2. The Sting of Death is its strength and power to annoy and hurt The sting of death in a similitude and resemblance of a serpent is its offending power the sting of death is sin as in v. 56. Sin arms death and the Law impowers sin and hence death hath its sting its power to offend and hurt sinners Death is the fruit and consequent of sin Rom. 5.12 Sin entered and Death followed after hence Death comes as an Evil not only as a natural but as a penal and judicial evil as I hinted before Now sin gives strength and power unto Death so that he thâ—â—â— dyes in his sins has a very strong Death for sin puts forth all its potâ—â—â— and poyson to the utmost in the infliction of death upon the sinner 〈◊〉 causeth death to pierce pain and poison the sinner it lets out the wrathâ— which is to come upon the sinner it opens a door to endless and succorless torments it makes the parting with life and the comforts of it bitter to the sinner hence in the death of a sinner all his sins are revived and the curse seizeth on him 3. What is meant by the Apostles thus speaking in a Way of triumphâ—â— Glorying Answ 1. It is a figurative manner of speech in which Death is spoken to as in the form and guise of a Person as an Officer coming under Commission 2. It imports that his power was lost as to the Apostle and so all Believers so the Apostle includes all believers v. 57. who giveth us the
and to look up to that which is to come yet I am sure it iâ—… greater error and a damning error in the wicked and ungodly whâ—… they are not afraid of Death at all when they look upon Death as a common and usual event and have slight thoughts of it all their complaints are out of sympathy with their friends or from their bodily pains or their distracted thoughts about worldly matters but never consider what a weighty thing it is to dye well or what a dreadful thing it is to miscarry in their latter end And O the wretched stupidity of some that can be then most secure and are even like the beasts which perish Psal 49.12 O then blame not any that have woful apprehesions of death and beware of indulging your selves in a stupid secure frame for as Solomon saith in another case Prov. 23.32 It will sting like an Adder and bite like a Serpent II. Hence learn why the wicked and those that are out of Christ have such dreadful deaths they are under the sence and apprehension of the sting of death Death hath a piercing painful and poysonous sting and it hath power over them and doth as armed with the curse of the Law improve its power to fill them with pain sorrow and anguish They may be secure and stupid and their consciences may be seared but those that are not given up to a reprobate sence and so are past feeling they cannot but be full of bitterness and anguish under the unloosed pangs of Death But so much for this Doctrine I proceed to the second II. Doct. The sting of Death is certainly and infallibly taken out so that it cannot really hurt prejudice or annoy any true Believer They may truely and groundedly say as he 1 Sam. 15.32 Surely the bitterness of Death is past it may pierce and pain them but it cannot poyson them it may bruise their heel but cannot break their head What is become 〈◊〉 all that are fallen asleep in Christ are they destroyed Nay they 〈◊〉 made Are they undone Nay they are perfected Is their state â—â—â—tered Nay it is bettered and compleated Are they conquered Nay they are crowned Are they perished No they are highly priâ—â—â—â—dged Are they in bondage Nay they are set at liberty Are 〈◊〉 killed Nay they are revived Are they swallowed up Nay Deach their last and greatest enemy is swallowed up into a compleat victory But I shall endeavour in the opening of this Doctrine to shew you how â—he sting of death is taken out 1. That Sting is taken away that consists in its coming through mans own default But you will say is not death even in the godly a fruit of sin I answer it cannot be denied but that to the godly it is the consequent of sin but it is not in a strict sense the Punishment of their sin for there is no condemnation to them that are â—r Christ Rom 8.1 but it is rather a sanctified affliction to them and the Saints priviledge They made themselves sinful and God made them mortal that so they might not be alwayes miserable Though it came in by sin as Râ—m 5.12 yet as things are now stated in Christ Death to the Saints is the only choice Remedy against sin and the way of their return and entrance into a state of Perfection Thus of the flesh of the Viper is made a choice Antidote against his own poison Christ having overcome death for us Heb. 2.14 Temporal and bodily death is one of the streams of the bitter waters that flow from our provocation against God but since the wood of the Cross is cast into it it is become to every godly man delightsome and savoury and without any distastfulness in it It came with the curse of the thorns but since Christ wore his crown of thorns we may suffer and dye without fear So long as the curse of the Law hath power sin will be strong so long as sin is strong death will be terrible and bitter but Jesus Christ hath satisfied the Law vanquished death and taken out its sting even in Golgotha the place of sculls where were so many Trophies of Deaths victory in its own territories there he overcame it so that now a Believer may say I brake the Law but in Christ I satisfied it and may glory saying In the Lord have I Righteousness and Strength 2. The sting of Death is taken out in that it is not now a part or fruit of the revenging wrath of God but of his fatherly love and therefore he doth not so much thrust them out of this world when they dye as take them to himself as it is said concerning him Ger. 5.24 God took him And so Christ tells his Disciples Joh. 14.3 I wâ—ll come again and receive you to my self They are gathered to their Fathers Thâ—â— that dye in the Lord doe not fall but yield themselves into the hand◠〈◊〉 God Acts 7.59 Stephen resigns up his spirit into the hands of Chrâ—â—â— The wicked are gathered like Tares and like chaff to be burned but the Saints like a shock of ripe corn in its season like the preceâ—â—â—â—ain into the Garner to be preserved Hence as a man would â—â—lly â—ay siâ—â— best Moveables when a place is to be destroyed so 〈◊〉 God â—o be 〈◊〉 way his Saints before he bring destroying Calamityes upon a Nation 57 1. The righteous perisheth and no man layâ—th it to heart and the mercifull men are taken away none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come Old Mothuselah goes in the year before the Flood came Hezekiah and Josiah are removed by death that so they might not see the evil coming upon Judah Precious in the eyes of the Lord is the Death of his Saints Psal 116.15 It s no messenger of Satan nor an instrument of wrath but the messenger of Christ to translate them into the Kingdome of heaven whilst others fall into Gods angry revenging hand the Saints dye in the Lord and rest in the embraces of his Love It is said of Moses Deut. 34.5 He dyed at the mouth of Jehovah with a Kiss of his mouth as the Rabbies gloss it as it were sweetly respiring his breath back again into the hand whence he received it So that death to the Saints is not from Justice but choicest mercy and love It is one of those things given us by God in Christ 1 Cor. 3.22 Death is yours 3. Deaths Sting is taken away in that though it separate Body and Soul yet neither the one nor the other are separated from Christ their Communion with one another indeed is broken but their Union with Christ is no wayes impaired or disanulled They dye in the Lord Rev. 14.13 and sleep in Jesus 1 Cor. 15.18 we dye unto the Lord whether we live or dye we are the Lords Rom. 14.8 Our friends indeed are not with us but they are with Christ which is far better Phil. 1. They are taken hence
they are as water in the Sea safe and united in its inclosure with the rest of the element so the Saints are gone to their place after death a place of rest and known to be so it s a known and knowing state which they enter into it s known for their is a clear description of it in the holy Scriptures a Map as it were of the heavenly Canaan It s a knowing state for then we shall know as we are known 12. Deaths sting is taken away in that it s made a passage into heaven The Saints they pass from death to life when the wicked pass from death to death from the first to the second death Hence they may be terrified at it and shrink but a Child of God when he considers its errand that it comes to carry him hence to his Fathers house he can entertain it with comfort Death to the Saints is the middle point between two lives it is an harbinger and fore-runner of their being received up the righteous being taken up thus they enter into peace Isa 57.2 they never reach the end of their race till now they have shot this gulph and now immediately they arrive at it No sooner are the Saints undressed here but they are cloathed upon in heaven No sooner doe they leave this lise but they enter upon a better Lazarus died and was carried into Abrahams bosome Luk. 16.22 The thief goes from the cross with Christ to Paradise Luke 23.43 This day shalt thou be with me in Paradise Death is not an abiding but a transient state like a dark entry into a lightsome room Death doth assault but not conquer them it shall not have dominion over them as it hath over the damned in hell No death and hell as to them shall be cast into the lake of fire its dominion is taken away here yet its life is prolonged for a season and time as it s said of them Beasts Dan. 7.12 So death is prolonged here in this world after its dominion is broke â—hilst it is of use to the Saints and may serve the interest of mercy but â—â—n this is once over it shall be swallowed up So that is a suitable Eâ—â—aph which the holy Ghost has composed to be writ upon the Tombs â—â—â—e Saints lye BLESSED ARE THE DEAD WHICH Uâ—E IN THE LORD Rev. 14.13 Thus you see how the sting taken out by Christ and how he doth disarm Death VSE 1. Of Instruction 1. Hence see why the Saints deliberately 〈◊〉 and yet desire to dye the reason is because its sting is gone 〈◊〉 therefore is no way hurtful or terrible to the Saints they can oâ—â—â—munion with death and not be harmed by it A child may play with an Adder when it has lost its sting There is no sin nor curse nor sorrow nor pain that can hurt a child of God O no it s all removed in the blood of Christ were it not so they could not desire and long for it as they doe Paul presseth forward and reacheth forth to those things which are before and his mark is the Resurrection Phil. 3.13.14 Now in the mention of the Resurrection he necessarily includes Death yea a necessity of dying surely this argues death hath no sting to the Saints it ceaseth to be so great an enemy to them as it is to the Herd of ungodly men 2. Hence learn the great difference that there is between the Death of the righteous and the wicked They seem as to what is visible to be equal and alike in death they all goe to their long home and to the house appointed for all the living Yea but mark the perfect man and behold the upright for the end of that man is prace Psal 37.37 even a wicked Balâ—â—m when his eyes were open could say seeing the great difference between the godly and the wicked O that I might dye the Death of the Righteous and let my last end be like his Numb 23.10 3. Hence learn wherein the Saints are more then Conquerours They are tryumphers over their spiritual enemies as the Apostle saith in another case God made them to tryumph in Christ so he and the rest of believers Rom. 8. are more then Conquerours i.e. Tryumphers Christ hath overcome for them and by his Spirit enables them to overcome to tryumph in himself 4. And lastly Learn unto whom the praise of all the case and comfort which the Saints have in their death doth belong viz. to Jesus It is he makes them to differ Death would be as powerful as piercing as painful to them as it is to others but that Christ hath pluckt out the sting of it as to them What Hallelujahs of praise are due to him that hath redeemed us to God by his bood Rev. 5.9 How thankful how dutiful should all the Saints be to the blessed Lord Jesus as v. 57 58. Thanks be to God that giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus and I follows Be steadfast and immovable alwayes abounding in the work of thâ— Lord. II. Let all hence be exhorted all and every one to labour to get this stin removed Make it your work while you live do not leave and neglect it till you be alarumed by Death and it comes in view when slesh 〈◊〉 heart fails and Paysitians grow doubtful or despair of your escapeâ—â— Conscience is startled when distress and anguish take hold on you Doe not defer it I say till then but make it your business while you live 1. Labour to last the bitterness of sin so as to be duely affected with it and to be aff icted and mourn for it It s sin makes death bitter and painful but now let sin be therefore throughly sorrowed for and repented of that you may not dye in your sins then death will not nor cannot sting you O you poor mortal sinful men that must shortly dye Labour to repent and turn your selves Let your hearts be grieved and your reins be pricked for your sins Repent that your sins may be forgiven before you come to dye get the strength soveraignty and dominion of sin taken down this is the way to peace in a dying hour Wo to you saith Christ that laugh now Luk. 6. 2. Live by Faith depending on and cleaving to the Lord Jesus as your Redeemer and Deliverer There is none that can save and deliver us but He Act. 4.12 VVhen you have done all you can t is he alone that can save you and deliver you from the sting of death live so by Faith that you may dye in Faith as they Heb. 11. that will take away the sting of Death the shield of Faith quenches the fiery darts of the Devil Eph 6.16 the way to loose the pains of Death is to set and cleave close to Christ and to depend upon him 3. Live well Walk with God live holily righteously and godly in this present world serve your Generation as David get your work done it is a dreadful stinging thing for a man to have his work to doe when his day is done and death is come No Work while it is day work out your Salvation with fear and trembling be stedfast and immoveable alwayes abounding in the work of the Lord so it shall be a blessed thing to you to Dye in the Lord and rest from your labours How much of this was exemplified in the life and expressed in the Death of this honourable and virtuous Lady who is now gone hence to be with the Lord for ever who was chiefly in my thoughts in the choice of this Text. What ardor of desire What Faith What Hope What Confidence What gleamings of joy What Patience and willingness to depart is now issued in her is known to some and somewhat to my self I shall not therefore insist But since it was not my lot to attend her in her more solemn obsequies I thus come to lay down these little branches of Bays and Cypress on her Tomb. And as it was her earnest desire that whenever this her great change should come her own Family might reap the saving benefit of it so it is my hearts desire and Prayer that this Coogregation may have some saving benefit by and a sanctified use of her death that the remembrance of her pious Life may teach us how to live so that when our lise is â—pun out we may dye in peace and receive a Crown of Life FINIS
understood by the world nor be thought by your self to know of and be privy to any evil impression upon your spirit or to have an evil surmise concerning you that the evil one hath touched you but only as a faithful friend 〈◊〉 signify and give you an item of danger that you and all of us may avoid it And now here by your great and long importunity I am to present you with 〈◊〉 Notes and Sermons of your dear and sometime pleasant Companion which he himself made choice of to read and meditate on in the time of his Sickness in order to his Preparation for Death which shews the misery of the death of the wicked the great change that is made in the death of Believers by Christ Jesus â—…nd the great concernment incumbent on you and pressing hard on all of us and my care for my own soul and my hearts desire and prayer especially for all my dear Relations is that they and I may dye the death of the Righteous and that 〈◊〉 last end may be like his I need not tell you we are mortal daily experience â—…yes it and the multiplyed instances of it within the line of our Relation gives full Proof and evidence of it that we are mortal and our dearest Relations they are dying and passing away and I think sometimes God hath written a Sentence of Death over the whole Family and were we fit for that great and solemn Change I could easily seal to Solomons Testimony that the day of ones Death is better then the day of ones Birth Eccles 7.1 Now since it is sure that this is the end of all Living and that God will bring us to Dâ—ath it is an unalterable Statute and Decree of Heaven that we must dye how ought the thoughts of it to quicken us How ought we to number and so to number our dayes that we may apply our hearts to Wisdome How should the sence of it mortifye our desire to the World as it did Barzillaes 2 Sam 19.34 c. as the Apostle exhorts 1 Cor. 7.29 how should it quicken us to Repentance Faith Holiness and Obedience to do what we have to doe with all our might Eccâ—es 9.10 and to prepare and wait for our Change that we may be ready That 's the Erraud of this Sermon I shall therefore apply my self in a few words to move and direct in this great and weighty work to move and perswade all with whom I am nearly concerned to prepare for Death Consider 1. It is a time wherein Death hath received a large and high Commission Death hath reigned in the Region and Time wherein we live and dwell it hath put forth its power and hath received a Charge from God where and concerning whom is uncertain and how fan it may respect our Family and Relations God only knows but when it is in general a Dying time and so many of our Relations are in the space of thirteen years gone to their long home it nearly concerns us that survive who know that God will bâ—ing us also unto Death and the house appointed for all living to be prepared and stand readâ— in such a time the man of God wakens up his spirit to an holy trembling at the power of Gods anger and fervent prayer for instruction in this matter Psal 90.11 12. So I beseech all my dear friends and Relations at once to receive that Counsel of Christ to his Disciples Luk. 12.40 Be ye therefore ready also 2. It is a great and hard matter to be prepared for Death I may say of the Art of Dâ—ing well Aâ— longâ— Vâ—ta brevis It s a great work and the time is short A whole Life is time little enough to go through the work of a due and serious Preparation for Death and Judgement Job 14.14 He resolves to wait all the dayes of his appointed time A day week moneth or year was not sufficient to compass so great a work in but it will take up and he resolvedly devotes all his dayes to it Let no day pass without a Line Some have been in an instant and at the last watch wrought up to it by an extraordinary power of the Spirit and Grace 〈◊〉 Jesus Christ but in the ordinary course of Gods dispensation it takes time Therefore attend that Pattern of Christ to work while it is day Joh. 9.4 3. Christ comes suddenly Few Ages or places in the world if any have been so fruitfull and abounding with instances of sudden Deaths as this Some yeaâ— many have been summoned before the Tribunal of Christ in an instant God has indeed granted to all those that have lately died of our Family and Relations some time and to the most of them a long warning and time of Preparation for Death And it was remarkable in the Author of this Sermon He long desired that he might if the Lord saw good dye of a consumptive lingering Distemper and therefore when he found the grand signs of that Distemper said that God had given him his desire And through infinite grace which God shall be admired in them for they were moved and stirred up to a solemn Preparation of themselves improving their space given that they might be prepared for Death But God only knows in whose hands our breath our times and wayes are what time and warning we shall have its good therefore to be ready prepared for the worst Receive the advice of Christ therefore Luke 12.35.36 Let your loins be girded about and your lights burning and ye your selves like unto men that wait for their Lord when he will return from the Wedding that when he cometh and knocketh ye may open to him immediately 4. Consider what a dismal thing it is to dye unprepared For Death to come armed by Sin with the curse and wrath of God To dye in our fins it is to dye miserably and to come to a miserable end I may truely say of him that so dyes An untimely birth is better then be as Eccles 6.3 Yea as Christ said of him that betrayed him It had beâ—n good for that man he had never been born Hence Solomon tells us Prov. 24.20 there shall be no reward to the evil man No Reward And yet is not Destruction to the wicked and a strange punishment to the workers of iniquity Job 31 3. Yea upon the wicked He i. e. God shall rain Snares Fire and Brimstone and an horrible Tempest Psal 11.6 Yet the wise man faith There shall be no Reward or End to the wicked man i. e. it shall be worse with him then if he had never been born The Lord help us all to consider it and mind a timous and serious prevention of this dismal issue 5. A preparedness for Death will render us meet for all dutyes and for all intermediate Changes There is much service and many solemn changes before us The voice of the Lord cryeth aloud to all men of Wisdom at this time to walk
from a near Relation from a familiar friend and acquaintance how did Jonathan and David weep over one another Ah then what is it for a man to part from himself to be rent a sunder one part from another The hardest knot and the nearest and dearest Tye that ever was must then be broken and the strictest Union must then be disanul'd the soul turned out of its Possession on the body left as a Vacuum Domicilium until the great Resurrection this must needs pierce and sting and fill with anguish in a dying hour 5. Another sting in death is that the body is consigned over to a state of corruption Dust shall return to the earth as it was Gen. 3.19 with Eccles 12.7 The body must then be reduced and resolved into its first Principles When God takes away their breath then all creatures dye and return to their dust Psal 104.29 The earthly house of this Tabernacle must be dissoived 2 Cor. 5.1 Taken down and in pieces death feeds on them Psal 49.14 Here the body feeds upon death dead creatures are its food but now death shall feed upon men by their death shall worms such like vermin live I have said to corruption thou art my Father saith Job C. 17.14 as concluding that his body must see corruption Some of Gods precious ones as Dr Taylor said of himself when condemned to be burned have deceived many viz. the worms that waited for them passing through a more speedy corruption of their precious bodies by the rage of their enemies but the ordinary way is to rot in the grave Now this carâ—yes a sting with it to think that worms shall destroy this flesh Job 19.26 The bowels and the vital parts shall be the Region of vermine When Joseph is carryed out of Egypt there is nothing but a Coffia of bones and when you shall seek a Father or other Relation or besought for there shall be nothing but Corruption an ill savour or a few dry bones 6. Another sting in death is the dolorous accidents and the heavy attendants that goe along with Death There are many things fall in in a dying hour there are the pains of death grievous sickness faintness outward parts grow numme the eyes sink the lips quiver and tremble the tongue falters the breath whezeth and draws hard the whole face waxeth pale the heart beats and throbbs Mark how Solomon in Eccles 12.2 c. leads the old man to his grave The sun or light ana the moon stars are darkned the powers of the mind shall be broken Understanding Memory and Imagination darkned weakened The Keepers of the house tremble that is the arms and hands through the abatement of the radical heat and moisture doe tremble The strong men bow themselves 〈◊〉 i.e. the thighs and knees and feet grow feeble The Grinders cease that is the Jaws and the Teeth lose their strength as to chewing the meat And those that look out at the windows are darkned that is the eyes grow dim fighted The doors are shut in the streets when the sound of the grinding is low the decoction of food is spoyled and all the passages of nature are obstructed He rises up at the voice of the bird his rest departs from him he is easily waked out of sleep All the daughters of musick are brought low both voice and hearing fail Passions and Fear especially is apt to move His hair becomes hoary He that was wont to bear burthens is now a burthen to himself appetite fails Thus Man goes to his long home And the Spina is loosed the Pia mater and the Veins are broken and the circulation of the blood is stopt these last especially are the constant and immediate Symptoms and sore-runners of death To have friends standing by some lamenting over us others amazed and standing agast to see rooms made dark Paul when his heart was sound tells his friends it was ready to break with the weeping of his friends whom he had told that they should see his face no more Act. 21 13. So it is here when death comes it tells our friends that they must see our faces no more This causeth great and grievous sorrowing such as is heart-breaking to those that are dying And we must then wind up with the sad reckoning of Hezekiah Isa 38. 11 12. I shall behold man no more with the Inhabitants of the world Mine age is departed he will cut me off with pining sickness 7. It puts an end to and destroyes our purposes as to this lisen All the vast projects and counsels of stare which Princes and great ones of the earth have upon the wheel when their breath goeth forth those porish Psal 146.4 The rich mans thoughts of pulling down his barns building greater they all perish'd in that night when God took away his soul Luke 12. 18 c. It s reported of Caelar that in his Notes after his death were found Projects to unite Inâ—â—â— to the Romane Empire to drein the Casoian Sea c. But his breath went forth Death prevented and his thoughts perished Death admits of no after thoughts but as the tree falls to it lyes Ecclef 11.3 Whatever designs of love and good will men have as Joseph the Shepherd and Stone of Israel had towards â—â—e Church and People of God in Egypt they all perish as to them Whatever designs of evil men have as Herod had towards jesus in his â—â—fancy they perish Mâ—â—tui non mordent Whatever hopes men have as to the concerns of this life as hezekiah had of a Son to succed him they are cut off Eccles 9 6. Also their love and their hatred and their envy are now perished And v. 10 there is no work nor device nor knowledge nor wisdome in the grave This is a grievous sting in death for all a mans hopes designs Projects devices to be brought to an end and to nought in one day hour or moment 8. Another sting in death is that it strips us of all our present enjoyments Mors ultima linea rerum It s the last stroke of things the utmost boundary beyond which none can pass or possess Naked shall I return Job 1. ult saith Job We shall carry nothing with us Eccles 5.15.16 Man must then leave himself and no marvel if he leave his worldly goods He shall lean upon his house saith Bildad but it shall not stand he shal hold it fast but it shall not endure Some see the funeral of their worldly enjoyments while they are yet alive Friends Acquaintance Riches and wealth leave them while they are yet alive so it was with Job but at Death every one must forsake them and his worldly enjoy ments must be as it were buried with him Psal 49.10 The wise man and the fool and bruitish person when he dyes leaves his wealth to others so God sayes to that fool Luk. 12.20 This night shall thy soul be taken from thee and then whose shall all those
things be they shall be another mans It s certain saith the Apostle 1 Tim. 6.7 that we carvy nothing out of this world Where we took up our Lot in this life there we must leave it The things of this life are like a boat to wast us over the water which can doe us no further service when we come on shore as our cloaths that we put on in the morning and put off at night Now for them that dote upon their worldly enjoyments and have their portion in this life what a grief is it and how doth it sting them to consider that they yet must take an utter leave of all their joyes delights friends and good things at once as the merchants of Babylon lamented over the costliness of the city for in one hour it was made desolate so may the rich Miser in a dying hour They at Ziglaz wept for the sacking of the place and the captivity of their sons and daughters till they had no more power to weep yet they might be recovered but in Death there is no Return 9. Another sting in Death is that Satan is very busy to hold the souls of men in a desperate security or plunging them into the depth of 〈◊〉 spair which is the very image of Hell hence Asaph in Psal 73. spâ—â—â—â— of some in his observation that had no bands in Death and Bildad â—enâ— of others that are haled to the King of Terrors O the Râ—â—â—â—â— and restless tostings of some poor wretches when they 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 that 〈◊〉 out as if their breath were already made up of Fire and Brimstone as Francis Spira and Hadrian the Emperour And oh the sottish stupidity and senslesness of others who mind nothing at all neither past nor present but their bodily pains when their souls are sinking into hell How few are there that commit their souls to God and wisely and patiently dispose themselves for their latter end There is a woe pronouced upon the inhabitants of the earth for the Devil is come down unto you having great wrath because he knoweth that he hath but a short time Râ—v 12.12 So it may be said of every inhabitant of this earth when he comes to dye the weight of sin the unsupportableness of Gods anger the terrors of hell the nearness of the danger the difficulty of salvation will all appear nakedly to the naked soul When God makes darkness and it is night then the beasts of the forest creep forth every frog will be croaking towards the evening every puddle will send up a stinking vapor in a foggy night all the several shadows of things will unite every thing will concur to make up and compleat the misery of the poor sinner but the Rulers of the darkness of this world and powers of darkness set in to doe the last and worst in this life 10. Another sting in death is in the manner of its coming 1. It comes inevitably none can withstand or evade it the wise the rich the strong the beautifull the virtuous the young and the grey-headed c. fall and perish by it It s as a River that carryes all before it a Sythe that cuts all clean before it and levels all before it Job 3.14 15 18 19. It turns Kings and Counsellors Princes into the grave it breaks prisons small and great are seized by it It is appointed for all once to die saith the Apostle Heb. 9 27. Like sheep they are laid in the Grave and Death feeds on them Psal 49.14 This carryes a sting with it â—o lye open to the power of an enemy inevitably 2. It comes suddenly without delay this night saith God thy soul â—â—all be taken from thee Luk 20. Man knoweth not his time Eccl. 9.12 3. It comes irrecoâ—erably Job 14.12 Man lyeth down and riseth not 〈◊〉 the heavens be no more and v. 14. shall he live again the interrogaâ—â—â—â— implyes a strong and vehement negation Job 7.9 10. as the cloud â—â—â—onsumed and vanisheth away so he that goeth down to the grave shall come up no more he shall return no more to his house nor shall his place know him any more 4. Another sting in Death is that it puts us into a state unknown of which we have no experience it s called a Land of darkness as â—â—â—â—ss it self and of the shadow of death and without any order and where the light is as darkness Job 10.22 Men are afraid to goe in the dark the traveller is afraid to pass when the evening is come and where a man knows nothing he suspects the worst Mat. 17.6 The Disciples were sore afraid at the voice from the excellent glory Lastly Unto ungodly men it is a certain inlet and entrance into eternal Death It s a dark passage into the bottomless pit they are led through the prison of the grave to the place of execution Death temporal ushers in death eternal the death of the body makes way for the death of the soul they dye now and they dye ever Rev. 21.8 We read of A second Death after which there is none to come This is the sting of all its stings a state in which a man cannot be worse and yet shall never be better when death and hell shall be joyned in one for ever VSE I. Hence learn why men dread and are so afraid of Death yea there are many causes why a natural man should fear Death because of the sting that is in it Ah should I tell you nothing and you should mind no other but your souls seperation from your body can you part with it without a sigh or a serious thought or of your bodyes corruption though it might be wrapped in lead and entombed in marble yet in a few days it shall be an abhorring and loathing to all living it shall be a prey to vipers and creeping worms of the earth your carcases and your remembrance shall alike rot and perish together Should I tell you of your sicknesses and death-pangs that shall oppress you and your helpless friends standing by should I shew you your coffin your Grave or Tomb your Herse cloath and your Bier should I tell you of the breaking of your purposes and your intents frustrated and this coming inevitably suddenly and unalterably methinks these things should present Death as terrible Ah but I tell you it is the wrath of God the scalding drops of it and the fruit of your sin the beginning of your everlasting destruction It s no other liberty but what the Felon hath when he is taken out of prison and brought forth to execution it s your extream agony and the time of Satans rage and the prevailing of the powers of darkness the black guard of Hell surrounding of you the rending of you in pieces I acknowledge its an error in the saints 〈◊〉 people of God to be so much affrighted at death and to goe so mournfully out of this world surely they have not learn'd to look off this world
you may observe as the temptations of dying Christians are stronger so the breathings of their souls the sense of Gods love the relish of spiritual things the ready and apt application of Scripture are more vivid and copious with them then than in all their lives before even as the Spirit of God and of glory hath been wont to rest upon the Martyrs when they were called to great and emâ—nent Susserings so here there are those supplyes of the Spirit and 〈◊〉 grace to help in this time of need that takes away the sting God suffeâ—â— Satan sometimes to draw out his strength like God Magog to the batter and stands himself as it were aloof for a while that he may give him thâ—â— more sudden and fatal overthrow I may therefore conclude this parâ—â— lar with the words of Christ Luk. 12.32 Fear not little Flook and of the Apostles 1 Job 4.4 Greater is he that is in you then he that is in the worâ—â— 10. Deaths sting is taken away in that how unavoidable soever it is or 〈◊〉 den unalterable yet its welcome to the Believer he is reconciled 〈◊〉 1. Though it come inevitably yet its welcome he doth not 〈◊〉 desire to avoid it as to meet with it t is the fruit of the promise the end of his desire the answer of his Prayers and an ease to all his sufferings They rest from their labours Rev. 14.13 If in this life only we have hope saith the Apostle v. 19. He doth not therefore desire to avoid death Mors si non bona est finis tamenâ—â—lla malorum saith Cato Hence Job hate his life and would not live alwayes Job 7.16 The Saints are even glad when they can find the grave they don't dye as those that must dy but as those that upon deliberation and choice desire to dye Luk. 2.29 Now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace Hence Paul is so far from flying from it that he pursues it Act 22.13 As it is said of Cato Quasi morion diâ—eccasionem se nactum esse ganderet 2. Enough it come suddenly its welcome for it is not sudden to them that wait for it all their lives Job 14 14. All the dayes of my appointed time will I wait till my change comes They may dye sooner then they thought for but not sooner then they would they may dye too soon for others but not for themselves their own comfort and profit Yea even the child in Christ dyeth an hundred years old Isa 65.20 When I hear Job cry as Job 14. 13. O that thou wouldest hide me in the grave and and see the good old Patriarch break off from blessing and saying as Gen. 49 18. I have waited for thy salvation O Lord. Those that have the first fruits groaning as Rom 8.23 bearing a part with the whole creation and with the Bride Rev. 22.20 I rather think they dye too leisurely and slower then they would Doe not tell me of a sudden death where there hath been a setled course in a godly life Nemo parùm diu â—ixit qui virtutis perfectae profecto functus est munere He comes in like a shock of corn in its season Job 5.26 Thou shalt come to thy grave in full 〈◊〉 like as a shâ—ck of corn cometh in in his season now the season is never 〈◊〉 with being too sudden It was sudden we say of this and the other death but he was throughly ripe first and where there was sufficiâ—ney of life there cannot be suddenness of Death God knows when 〈◊〉 cut his harvest when to call in his labourers Yea but he lived but a 〈◊〉 â—ort time therefore his death was sudden Not so for some live more 〈◊〉 one year then others doe in many and for the true Christian he is alwayes ready Act. 21.13 I am ready to dye 3. Though it be unalterable yet it is welcome its certain the hours yesterday will never return again and he that is once gon off the stage 〈◊〉 â—turn no more There is no shooting of the Gulph of Eternity Lazarus cannot come as a Messenger to Dives his brethren He that goeth down to the grave shall come up no more But as there is no alteration so the Saints desire no alteration it s the best flower in their crown that their state of happiness is everlasting 1 Thess 4.17 So shall we ever he with the Lord. Do you think to scare the Saints with this you cannot tell them more joyful Tydings than that their joyes shall be for ever The Rivers of pleasures at Gods right hand flow alwayes The tree of life never fades The robes of glory never sully nor admit of spot or wrinkle or any such thing they doe not wax old Serving God instantly day and night will not weary nor will the light of heaven grow dim like a candle nor goe down as the sun the Lord shall be our light and our God our glory Isa 60 19. Set a man in such a condition as it cant be better with him and tell him it shall never alter nor be worse with him it will not much grieve him So it is with the Saints in light the chang is unalterable you shall dye no more nor be sick nor sorrow nor doubt any more nor sin no more nor want any more as Moses said to the Israclites so may it be said to the Saints The Egyptians whom you have seen to day you shall see them no more for ever as Exed 14.18 Well may Believers breathe our their souls in tryumph and say O Death where is thy sting Let that be our station where there is no alteration let the better part be ours which shall never be taken away For simple is the best of titles and that only is heaven in all other things we are but Tenants for life and hat at the will of our great Lord. 11. The sting of Death is taken out in that the Saints know whither and into what estate they enter after Death The wicked walk in darkness and know not whither they go as he said Anxius vixi dulius morior heu quo vado They leap as it were from an high hill into a dark and deep pit not knowing where they shall light But the Saints know in whom they have believed how far and for what and are begotten again to a lively hope of the inheritance of glory they have their eyes upon it all their lives have a certain assurance of it and have the clearest apprehensions of it at Death Job 14 4. Whither I goe ye know and the way ye know 2 Cor 5.1 We know we have a Building of God 〈◊〉 house not made with hands eternal That which the Saints are ignorant of is the transcendent exellency of the glory they are going to 1 Cor. 2.9 Eye hath not seen But we know when he shall uppear we shall be like him 1 〈◊〉 3.2 Our friends to us are as water spilt upon the ground but with 〈◊〉