Self-righteousness and be clothed with the Righteousness of Jesus Christ p. 50 65. Of Mixt Holiness P. 63. The Contents of the Fourth Sermon Herein is shewed how it is with us from our first Conception and Birth until our Death p. 81. The manner whereof is shewed and may be most clearly conceived from those several Words whereby it is expressed in Scripture of Dying Deceasing Departing Yielding up the Ghost Gathering to his Fathers Falling asleep p. 83. Of seeing Death p. 88. In which there is nothing dreadful to such as are indeed the Children of God P. 96. The Contents of the Fifth Sermon Of seeing the Lord 's Christ or rather of having Christ formed within us and that not in part only but wholly and throughout before we see Death p. 98. How to order our Good Works or Alms-giving that they may be acceptable with God p. 119. What may be thought of the different Sorts and Sects of Religion now in the World and concerning the Salvation of such of the Heathen as are indeed Good and Vertuous p. 124 125. The Contents of the Sixth Sermon Herein is shewed what mighty Force Reasoning and Exhortation is in this Consideration Thou shalt die and not live to set our Body and Soul in Order p. 132. Some Brief Remarks concerning Rich People p. 141. The whole is concluded with Two Practical Vses and Inferences p. 148 153. God hath at this Day Three Ways of Speaking Manifesting and Revealing himself unto Mankind viz. by his Written Word by his Spirit in the Heart and Conscience of each Person and by his Ministers Here also a difference is shewed between the true and false and what God will at length do as to the latter sort p. 154 155. The End of all the Parts and Ordinances of Religion and of all Books and Sermons if they be managed and composed aright is to set the Soul in Order against the time it shall go out of the Body p. 158. ERRATA PAge 24. line 4. for Charity read Chastity P. 54. L â— for summoned r. summed p. 53. l. 4. r. They know not I. 32. for Minstry r. Ministry p. 101. l. 33. for Mal. 3. 8. r. Mal. 3. 5. ibidem l. 24. r. To be obeyed p. 35. l. 33. r. We shall with them the better serve God SERMON I. Isaiah 38. 1. In those Days was Hezekiah sick unto Death and Isaiah the Prophet the Son of Amos came unto him and said unto him Thus saith the Lord Set thine House in Order for thou shalt die and not live A Serious and thorough Consideration concerning Death and Immortality was the principal Inducement which did first bring me acquainted with the Ways of God for I have thought much thereon from my Tender Years And now as I approach Day after Day nearer in Time towards it so I ought to have it yet much more in Remembrance with continued Thought and Searching of Heart how I may grapple with that last Enemy how either to pluck out or blunt the Edge of the Sting of Death that the Grave may not have the Victory over me that is so far overcome me as to consign me over unto the Second Death I would not therefore by mine own good will Preach one Sermon nor yet make one Prayer unto God wherein I did not mention somewhat or other of this Wisdom as the Holy Ghost calleth it that we may understand this that we would consider our latter end Deut. 32. 29. For indeed this is the Will of God and of Christ concerning us dying Creatures as also it doth teach and instruct us what Mind and Temper we should be in now we are for a very little while Breathing as yet on this Earth Let your Loins be girded about and your Lamps burning and ye your selves like unto men that wait for their Lord observe that when he will return from the Wedding that when he cometh and knocketh they may open unto him immediately blessed are those Servants whom the Lord when he cometh shall find watching And so we should every one of us wait and watch for the coming of the Lord our God and especially for his Haâ—binger Death which he sends before for to bring our Souls unto himself the God unto whom shall all flesh come Psal 65. 2. or rather what inhabits in Flesh shall come At the Death or Departure of each Person the Body or Dust returns to the Earth as it was and the Spirit to God that gave it Saith the Apostle Whatsoever things were written asoretime were written for our Learning that we through Patience and Comfort of the Scripture might have hope Rom. 15. 4. And so this great place of Isa 38. 1. which was written three or four Thousand Years ago is written for our Learning who live almost Seventeen Hunâ—dred Years after Christ Yea as Christ himself saiâ— upon another occasion This Day is this Scripture fuâ— filled in your Ears so I testifie unto all that shall heâ— or read these Lines This Day is this Scripture mean this very Text of Isa 38. 1. fulfilled in youâ— Ears for instead of what is there said In those Daâ— waâ— Hezekiah sick unto Death now it may be read 〈◊〉 this wise In these Days are such an one and such a one naming the several People by their respective Names and so it is of all the Dwellers in England yeâ— and of all the Habitable Parts of the Earth They are all sick unto Death For though indeed it was thus originally said upon the account of an extraordinary Ulcer or Disease which was then upon Hezekiah and by that phrase in the Gospel This sickness is not unto Death John 11. 4. we must distinguish between health and sickness and again between that kind of sickness which is Recoverable and Curable and that sickness which indeed is Mortal or a sickness unto Death how then can it be here truly said when many are in Health Youth Vigour Lusty and Strong that they are all sick unto Death Nevertheless I will prove and make out what I afore-affirmed Common Reason sheweth that a growing Tree is equally alive in the midst of Winter although it doth seem as a barren dead and dry Tree because then it doth not run in Sap nor shoot forth in green Leaves even so by the very same similitude by supposing it contrariwise it may be conceived that in the midst of Youth Health Life and Vigour which are the Spring and Summer of our Age we are all the while sick unto Death or as it is appositely and properly expressed in the Office of Burial In the midst of Life we are in Death because that we do all along carry about us in our Body the Seeds of this sickness unto Death or the Seeds of Mortality According as it is expressed in the Book of Job The Root of the matter is in you so as soon as we are Born the Root of sickness which is the usual forerâ—nner thereof the Root of Death is in
us even from our Cradle unto our Tomb so that it is no false Doctâ—iâ—â— to affirm That all People even the most Young and Healthy are sick unto Death The Spirit of God did say thus of Hezekiah even when he had Fifteen Years longer to live as appears by the sequel of that Story and so the same holds true of all Mankind severally Though perhaps some among them may have the same period of time twice thrice or four times over for perhaps some of them especially Children may have thirty forty five or sixty Years to live longer yet even at this very Moment they are all sick unto Death A proportionable number of strokes with an Hatchet will cut down the biggest Tree that did ever grow on the Earth And although one stroke is given now and then another the Tree is all the while a cutting down Even so each Day and Night every Rising and Setting of the Sun are two strokes of this Hatchet which as Time is always in flux and succession continues to be still cutting down the Tree of our Life To pursue this same similitude again though it be to another matter yet it is to the same subject still as to our own Death and Mortality As it is written But every man in his own order 1 Cor. 15. 23. so I have often thought that as God is the Lord of Life he taketh away one and leaveth another in his own Order which his own Order is not to us discernable because that no respect or difference is had to Age for the oldest doth not most commonly go first the Good or Evil the Godliness or Ungodliness of the Person that one lives longer than another But the case of us all dying Creatures as we are under the Everliving and Almighty God is just like so many Trees growing in a Wood or Coppee As to which the Owner or Proprietor sends his Bayliff or Orders his Workmen to cut down one and then another according as each is marked out and according as he hath use and occasion either for a tender Plant or a well-grown Timber Tree for Building or an old Tree for the Fire even so the Gâ—eat God over all doth give Command and Commission to such a Disease or outward Accident which herein may be compared unto his Hatchet or Instrument to go and cut down such a Man or Woman Stripling Boy Girl Infant of Days according as his Almighty Wisdom sees and knows best either cut him down quite or shake him for it is eviâ—ently seen that he sends sickness to this Person when another is well which sickness proves Mortal to some and not to others for there is a sickness which he sends and is unto Death Again there is a sickness which is not unto Death but unto the Glory of God in sparing Sinners so long and to the Benefit of them if they did make a right 〈◊〉 thereof which again is but a Reprieve and short Respite for at last comes the Sickness or Accident which is indeed unto Death The Lord God of Heaven who knows all things knows which of the Trees growing in this or that part of his Wood as are the several Cities Towns and Villages throughout the Earth are marked out for the very next to be cut down Though we do not know it before yet 〈…〉 afterwards Just like as at every Funeral we knoâ—â—â—ot then which of the Company that Accompanies the Bier will be carried next upon it themselves but this is seen and known afterwards The Word of Instruction which doth arise from this Consideration and Apprehension is this As when Jesus Christ said to his Disciples Verily one of you shall betray me And they were exceeding sorrowful and began every one of them to say Lord Is it I Mat. 26. 21 22. so we may even now hear the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ God our Creator speaking unto us from Heaven on this wise Verily I say unto you that all of ye shall die but one of you in particular shall die before the rest God now speaketh thus from Heaven unto every Neighbourhood and Assembly of People and we should be hereupon not so much exceeding sorrowful as exceeding careful to live in trembling Psal 2. 11. and pass the time of our sojourning here in fear For we should every one of us begin to fear and provide in such a manner as if it was certainly I my self that must die the very first and next of any one in this Parish or Neighbourhood It is godly discretion so to live each and every Day as if it should be certainly our last and so it is here the same godly Discretion and Soul-saving Wisdom to reckon upon our selves as the Man that shall die the very next for it is an essential part of Wisdom to think the worst and put the case at the worst and to provide beforehand against the worst that shall or can possibly happen for in both these instances we are never the nearer Death for thus doing but only better provided and prepared for it We should so live now we are sick unto Death in the sence afore-explained as if we were indeed sick unto Death in the common meaning and acceptation of the Word We should so live every Day now we carry the Seeds of Corruption and Mortality about with us as we would live if the Plague were upon us and the Blue Spots and Tokens did appear on our Skin which do always and certainly presage a very near approaching Death The Reason whereof is this Because that every Day must come into account and we must be judged for the Thoughts Words aâ—d Actions of every Day after Years of Discretion and we are come to the Knowledge of Good and Evil. I shall be Judged and must give Account for what I did when I was but Sixteen Twenty or Twenty-five Years old as now when I am more than Thirty and so I shall be called in question at the Judgment-seat of Christ for what I do now as for what I shall do in the last Month Week and Day of my Life so that the Consequence is Natural and Necessary I ought now as much to walk in all Holy Conversation and Godliness and to efchew Evil and do Good as much and all one as if it was the last Month Week and Day of my Life for I shall be equally judged for one as for the other The end of our Redemption is That we might serve God without fear in Righteousness and Holiness before him all the days of our Life And although there is much talking in the World of Preparation for Death and of providing for our latter end as if it was then time enough to be godly when we grow sickly or old In no wise God forbid for it will go evil with that Soul which hath not been godly before Yet in the Scriptures which were given to make us wise unto salvaâ—ion which is a Perfect and All-sufficient Rule of Life
SIX SEVERAL SERMONS Preached on Isaiah 38. 1. WHEREIN THAT GREAT DUTY OF Setting our BODY and SOUL in Order For we shall Die is at large opened and Explained Wherein also many DIVINE TRUTHS ARE Made known relating to the same Matter And now Published because of the exceeding Importance and Concernment of this Subject unto all People whatsoever For Man also knoweth not his time as the Fishes are taken in an evil Net and as the Birds that are caught in the Snare so are the Sons of Men snared in the evil time when it falleth suddenly upon them Eccles 9. 12. For Precept must be upon Precept Precept upon Precept Line upon Line Line upon Line here a little and there a little Isa 28. 9. London Printed and are to be sold by Ralph Simpson at the Harp in St. Paul's Church-Yard 1696. TO THE READER IF I were to Judge of all others by my self I should think that all People of whatever Age or Condition of Life should earnestly catch at and be very desirous to look into and read all Books concerning Death and Mortality if perhaps they might light upon any thing therein which may either mitigate or lessen that fear of Death which even in the midst of and throughout their Life is sensible in all Mens minds Which same fear hath Torment and doth afflict them But more especially if they may find any thing in their reading of this kind which may Teach Instruct and Direct them what they must do to be Happy after Death and to make sure of it all one as it is desired to live comfortably and happy before Death for if People are so very much concerned as we see they are what they sâ—all eat and what they shall drink and wherewithal they shall be clothed for this short time because these things are present and sensible they should also take care beforehand nay they must and will unavoidably think when the end is come the end is come Ezek. 7. 6. which is doubled because the thing is established by God and for the certainty thereof whether it shall go well or ill with them throughout all Eternity for then these things will be present and sensible also And it being the highest Wisdom to do those things whilst living especially since those things are to be only done in our Life-time I must work the Works of him that sent me whilst it is day the night cometh when no Man can work which we shall wish and desire we had done when we come to die this should influence and actually persuade People even in the midst of their Youth Health and Vigour when they are Lusty and Strong yea throughout all their Life here on Earth to be continually employed about this one thing needful of setting their Soul in Order against the time it shall go out of this Body and to make sure that when their Earthly House of this Tabernacle shall be dissolved they may have a Building of God not made with Hands Eternal in the Heavens This is the difference between the Godly and Sinners between Wise Men and Fools the Godly and Wise do only those things in time besore it be too late or the Door is shut which the Sinners and Fools do at last bethink themselves and wish it is the part of Fools to say I never thought it would come to this when it is too late and the time is over and past As Christ said the People of Nineveh will rise up in Judgment against the People of this Generation and condemn them So I testifie in this my day that the Heathen may rise up in Judgment against the People of this Generation and condemn them For they especially the wiser sort some of them defining Wisdom to be a Meditation of Death did search and enquire diligently and think continually what should become of them after Death albeit they knew nothing certainly concerning Immortality and future Life but they had only a little glimmering and conjecture thereof And yet this did put them upon the practice of Moral Virtue and the doing of Good Actions that thereby they might be Happy after Death But now in this Christian Countrey there is a most clear Gospel-Light and Revelation concerning it yet to most People herein Death is like a Damp which puts out all their Lights of Pleasure and through Satan's acting with all deceivableness in them that perish the greatest part of Men and Women do concern themselves but very little about it But notwithstanding their Supineness and Negligence which is the miscarriage of the whole Woâ—ld the Children of God the Heirs of Life and Immortality in all their several Generations and Countries were always and all along even in the midst of Life Health and Prosperity great Meditators of Deaâ—h O that I my self might be of their number but as some little Hope and Evidence thereof I did always as for my part even from my Tender Years think very much of Death and what would follow thereon I now call to remembrance my Thought and searching of Heart which was in the days of old when I was but a Stripling I did then Commune with mine own Heart and my Spirit made diligent search What will becâ—me of me after that this Body of mine which I carry about me is laid in the Earth For I did â—ind then that my Spirit would live and abide elsewhere as truly God hath shewn this unto me from within my self ever since I was a Child and had the least Knowledge of Good and Evil that there was another Life and a succeeding State which People should enter upon and go into after they were gone off from this Earth I was all along for the greater part and I am still as verily persuaded and ascertained of it as I am sure of this Life which I now live or that I now write down these words And thereupon revolving and pondering many things in my mind how that all here is but vain little and passing away as a Shadow and doth not signifie much afterwards fâ—in would I be Happy and Safe as to that succeeding and Eternal State of things into which my Soul must be launched forth out of this Body Accordingly I have made it my business to read all Books and Sermons that I could light upon which treat of this matter But especially I have searched and enquired diligently into the Scriptures in the which we think that we have Eternal Life But we know assuredly that the way to Eternal Life is taught and shewed therein And I desire that what things I have in the following pages brought forth out of that Treasury of Heavenlâ— Truths may be published for the Benefit and Instruction of others For I do not write these things out mine own Head nor yet from mine own Imagination and Invention but only from the Scripturâ—s which are given to make us wise unto Salvation and what is rightly inferred from Truth is Truth likewise And although this
days in the Lâ—nâ— whither ye go over Jordan to possess it This is sufficient prolonging ones days to a witness to live the length of a whole Eternity or to live for evermore In the Land that is the new Heavens and new Earth where dwelleth Righteousness After we are gone over Jordan hereby is typified and signified the River of this Liâ—e for to possess it For indeed the very truth of the matter stands on this wise if we shall be rendred meet and found worthy As Jesus the Prince of Life did say when he heard that Lazarus was sick This sickness is not unto Death When indeed it was a sickness unto Death for Lazarus died of that sickness But Christ the Way the Truth and the Life spake on this wise knowing in himself what he would do even raise Lazarus to Life again And so it was for the Glory of God that God might be glorified thereby Even so in very like manner the words of our Text may be read and reversed Set your House in order for thou shalt live and not die For the Soul which is we our selves doth not die when it goes out of this Body but only leaves this earthly House and departs from this Body and changes its place of Abode and Habitation I remember that I was very much pleased and transported within my self because I find from out of the Sâ—râ—ptures of Tâ—uth and mine own Spirit witnessing the same what I have Read in Cicero and Zenophon Heathen Authors where Cyrus and Cato and Scipio are brought in speaking to this purpose and effect Saith Cyrus It could never be perswaded to me that these Souls of ours when they go out of this Body do die or perish For most certainly they live unto God the Father of Spirits For my part I do as firmly bâ—lieve and am as verily perswaded of all this as that I now write these Lines or as I am assured that I now live and breath It hath bâ—â—n aforesaid That even in the midst of Life Health and Vigour every one of us was sick unto Death because that we did all along carry about with us in the Body the Seeds of Corruption and Mortality Which holds true as to the Flesh and outward part of us But as to our Souls we are not sick unto Death but alive unto 〈◊〉 in the Apostle's Phrasâ— or alive unto Everlasting Life if we have the Seeds of Grace and Holiness in our Souls which are indeed the Principles of Life and Immortality abiding within us To this agrees the meaning of the Holy Ghost in several places of Scripture particularly in the Gospel of John Saith Jesus Christ Ye will not come unto me that ye might have life John 5. 40. For the Bread of God is he that cometh down from Heaven and giveth life unto the world I am come that they might have life and that they might have it more abundantly Whosoever drinketh of the Water that I shall give him shall never thirst but the Water that I shall give him shall be a Well of Water springing up into Everlasting life John 4. 14. He that believeth on me as the Scripture hath said out of his Belly shall flow Rivers of living Water John 7. 38. These two last Scriptures comâ— directly to our present purpose For it being here said In him a Well of Water springing up unto everlasting life and here it is said That it shall flow out of his Belly and by what the Scripture elsewhere saith that such an one hath in him everlasting life all this shews and confirms that the Saints and Servants of the Most High God by having Grace and Holiness and the new Life ingraffed in them they have also thereby even whilst their Souls inhabit in this weak vile and dying Body here on Earth the Seeds and Principles of Immortality and Eternal Life so that they shall never see Death that is Death Eternal and when their Souls go out of these Bodies they do not die but live And so it is found true in them what Seneca saith who herein spake much more like a Christian than like an Heathen for Flesh and Blood could not reveal these things unto him but God his Creator saith he That day which some fear to be their last he means the Day of Death is indeed the Birth-day of Immortaliâ—y For in truth the Souls of the Righteous are then Born and brought forth into another World into an inâ—â—niâ—ely better and more enduring sâ—ate The Vngodly are not so It is otherwise with the Wicked and the Children of Disobedience or the Children of Perdition as the Scripture Phrases them For whâ—t is the greatest Happiness to the Righteous is the beginning of Sorrows unto these The Day of Death is either the best or worst of all the foregoing Days even according as the foregoing Life hath been Good or Evil Godly or Ungodly for the Souls of these Miserable Creatures do also live and exist and they are sensible also Yet according to the meaning of the Holy Ghost especially in many places of the Revelations and also according to the desire and feeling of the Creatures themselves it is Death and not Life or rather worse than Life to abide in Torment Pain and Misery And therefore it is so ofâ—en called the second Death or Death The Soul that sinneth it shall die Turn you turn you why will ye die Not that the Souls of them will ever cease to be in no wise But they will be in such a wretched condition that Death would be better than Life According as it is written In those days shall men seek to die and death shall flee from them As it is here explained these two manner of ways this is the Order Decree and Appointment of God our Creator upon all the Reasonable Inhabitants of the Earth who are commonly called or known by the Name of Men and Women It is appointed for all once to die but after that the Judgment and then they are to rise and live again For the hour is coming in the which all that are in the Graves shall hear his voice And shall come forth They that have done good unto the Resurrection of Life and they that have done evil unto the Resurrection of Damnation Sâ—eing then that all these things must so be yea and they shall so be what manner of Persons ought ye to be in all Holy Conversation and Godliness Looking for and endeavouring whatever we can in this short space between during the few and evil days remaining of our Pilgrimage that we may rise unto the Resurrection of Life Most People have done some little good in the foregoing part of their Life according to their Station and Capacity their Condition and Employment in the World But as it was said Ahab served Baal a little but Jehu shall serve him much So let every one of us make the like Inference and Reasoning and to take up the same Resolution as to put it
in continued Practice unto the day of our several Deaths in reference to the God of Israel hitherto and in the foregoing part of my Life I have served God a little and I have done a little good but for what now remains I will serve God much and labour whatever I can to do much good for it will be only of the number of those that have done good that will rise unto the Resurrection of Life This one thing to remember and practice to observe and do is Benefit and Use enough for your coming to hear this Sermon But I am sensible beforehand of all the Exhortation that hath or can be used as to this matter that this will be the effect of hearing this and of all other Sermons As it was in reference to Paul's Preaching And some believed the things which were spoken and some believed not Acts 28. 24. So some of ye will obey and do according to the things that have been spoken others again will not obey and do thereafter Some of ye will hear and endeavour to remember by pondering these things in your Heart after ye are gone from hence as Mary laid up the sayings of Jesus in her Heart there be those again who will hear with one Ear and let it out with another that it shall go off and be with them as a flash and a noise and as the Wind that passeth away Even so it will be at the end of things and as to all the Generations and Persons of Mankind of all Countrey and Places It is appointed to all to die This of necessity and force Some of them did set their Houses in order that is their Souls in a readiness and meetness before they died Others again did not set their Houses in order before they died but they were careless and negligent as to that till indeed Death came upon them He that feared the Word of the Lord amongst the Servants of Pharaoh made his Servants and his Cattel flee into the Houses which were hereby preserved and he that regarded not in the Margent here it is set not his Heart unto the Word of the Lord left his Servants and his Cattel in the Field Exod. 9. 20 21. which were therefore destroyed Even so it is here he or they among the Inhabitants of the Earth that feared the Word of the Lord obeyed the Exhortation in our Text and did set their Houses in order before they died and those will be saved and preserved for though they die they shall live again But such of the Inhabitants of the Earth as did not regard nor set their Heart unto the Word of the Lord the Exhortation and Command in our Text. They did neglect to set their Houses or their Souls in Order before they died even these Souls shall perish and be destroyed for though they shall never cease to be but they also shall live again yet it shall be only to receive and partake of Pain Punishment and Misery SERMON II. Isaiah 38. 1. Set thine House in Order for thou shalt die and not live IN which words Two Things are to be considered First A Duty enjoinâ—d Set thine House in order Secondly The Reason added and annexed For thou shalt die and not live As to the first As when David was old and stricken in Years and the Time drew nigh that he should die he gives charge and takes care who of his Children should succeed him in the Kingdom over Israâ—l as may be seen in the first and second Chapters of the first Book of Kings which was a great and weighty Concern So from that good and godly Example as also from the common Practice and Usage of the World we learn that it is both lawful and commendable yea it is the certain Duty as well as it is the Wisdom of each one according to his Station and outward Circumstances to give charge and take care concerning the Righteous Distribution and Disposition of those Houses and Lands Money or Goods to his Children and others to whom of Right it doth belong as Sons Daughters Kinsfolks Poor and such like For as touching this the Word and Law of God hath Commanded and Directed Children are not to lay up for their Parents but Parents for their Children He that provideth not for his own and especially for those of his own House hath denied the Faith and is worse than an Infidel Neither will this be sufficient available or acceptable with God to be Righteous unto all others and to be Unrighteous unto his own Children For we may Read in Romans 1. 32. That those who are without Natural affection are there Ranked among the vilest and worst of Men. But contrariwise As a good Man will guide his Affairs with discretion Psal 112. 5. in the midst of and throughout his Life so more especially he will do the same towards and before his Death Even by so ordering his Matters by a Righteous Equitable Equal and Impartial Distribution of his Goods amongst them As to give them no just Occasion for them to sâ—eak evil of him nor yet for his Adversaries to speak Reproachfully and to prevent before-hand Law-suiâ—s Quarrelling Hatred between Brothers and Sisters Kinsfolks and Neighbours and such like As we often know and hear that these last evil things and inconveniencies do too commonly happen for want of People thus setting their Houses in order before they die To set the House in order is spoken by way of Meâ—onomy that is to set the Things contained in the House in order and that is Goods as also Parchment Writings and Evidences câ—ncerning Lands as we Read that Jeremiah did Seal and Subscribe unto them when he made the purchase But this Phrase of the Holy Ghost hath a further meaning than all this even a Spiritual Sence and Signification therefore I now proceed to explain and handle it in that Threefold sence and meaning which the words will naturally bear without any forced or violent Construction made upon them As Man is usually considered in a Threefold Capacity outward Estate Body and Soul of which two last he is made up and constituted but the first is a thing appendant extrinsical and belonging to him So to set his House in order doth denote these three things 1st To set his outward Estate in order 2dly To set his Body in order 3dly To set his Soul in order for this is the most Principal thing That all these are severally meant included and intended when the Holy Ghost spake thus by Isaiah unto Hezekiah Set thine House in order will appear from other places of Scripture which was given by Inspiration from God as also from the very Nature and Reason of things It hath been observed that it is a Man's Prudence to make his last Will and Testament in the midst of Life and Health and to keep it always ready by him For the Party is never the nearer Death for so doing but only more ready and prepared for it For in
Salvation which also knows what is the Will and Expectation and Decree of God who is very Pure and Holy hath chalked out Rules of the highest Perfections and Attainments though withal it doth foresee that Men and Women through Ignorance Errour Failings Infirmities and Temptations will not arrive up unto but come short of them However there is no Salvation nor Assurance nor yet well grounded Hope to be had for Men and Women without a sincere and diligent endeavour without an actual pressing forward towards the mark of the high Calling which is in Christ Jesus even unless they follow and strive after the very highest Perfâ—ctions and Attainments of Christianity even until they do indeed lay aside every weight and the Sin that doth so easily beset them and run with Patience the Race that is set before them resisting unto Blood striving against Sin Which if they have not done as yet God expects it from them and woe be unto them if they do it not As aforesaid for this cause God doth as yet leave us breathing on this Earth oâ—ly for a very little while longer that we should set in Order what things are wanâ—ing in our Souls That is we should fill and make up and supply what is yet wanting according to what hath been afore spoken of If we have been and are a-doing this when the Time draws nigh that we must die and be taken off from this Earth God will translate us up into Heaven because we have this Testimony that whilst we were here by this doing we pleased God Which again is done by Faith SERMON IV. Isaiah 38. 1. Set thine House in Order for thou shalt Die and not live SO much of the Duty enjoined Set thine House in Order Now come we to the Reason annexed For Thou shalt die and not live I have composed a Sermon concerning Death and Mortality on Hebrews 2. 15. which also I have caused to be Printed and thus it now remains written for the Generations to come Psal 102. 18. This is an easie Subject to Discourse on because here so many things lie open common â—â—d obvious to the Knowledge of all People whatsoever Yet here again on the other hand it is so much the more hard to Preach thereon inasmuch as Preaching the Word should be in a somewhat higher strain above the level of the usual Talk and Thoughts of common People for it should make known such things which are not commonly known already For it is according to the Mind and Will of God that Knowledge should be increased Dan. 12. 4. So that is not barely to gratifie an itching Ear or the Athenian-like temper which is in Mankind in being desirous to hear or tell of some new thing for besides to answer the expectation of our Hearers it is our Duty And new things do I declare Isa 42. 9. at least such as do newly spring up in our mind although they be old Truths However we are also allowed of God having Authority for the same from his Word and also his Apostles and Ministers for our example hereof both to Preach the very same things which are commonly known and Preached already as also to write and speak the same things again which we have already written and spoken in order to stir up your pure Minds by way of Remembrance and also to make safe and full Proof of our Ministry And so whilst in the Course and Order of my Ministry I do partly Preach such things which I have Preached already and also some other farther Truths from week to week according as God bringeth the same to my Knowledge herein I do exactly answer and comply with that saying of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ Every Scribe instructed into the Kingdom of Heaven is like unto a House-holder which bringeth forth out of Treasury things new and old My intention and design at present is only to make known what new and further Thoughts and Truths do arise in my Mind as I Treat upon these words Thou shalt die and not live Of which as we speak it may be convenient and profitable to use this method 1st To handle the words simply and abstractedly Thou shalt die and not live 2dly To shew what mighty Force Reasoning and Exhorâ—ation is in this Consideration Thou shalt die and not live to the iâ—â—â—nt tâ—at we may set our House that is all our Worldly Concerns Body and Soul in Order because that we shall die and not live These words were not spoken and intended to Hezekiah only but they are also spoken and do belong unto and are for Admonition unto every Man and Woman of every Countrey Nation and Language and of every Generation and Time even from Adam until the last Resurrection of the Dead when they shall not Marry nor be given in Marriage and Men and Women shall be Born and Created no more It is hence demonstratively evident that it doth belong to all because the reason thereof doth sensibly and evidently belong to all Thou shalt die and not live For if any Man or Woman is exempted or priviledged from Death and from being liable unto it then indeed these words do concern Hezekiah who afterwards died but not him or her But it being most certain for nothing is so sure as Death that all must die therefore of necessity these words of Isa 38. 11. are a Command and Instruction they are for the Learning and Admonition of every one of us upon whom the ends of the World are come And as Jesus Christ spake to his Disciples and Followers What I say unto ye I say unto all watch From whence it doth appear that that word of his did appertain to the whole Multitude that followed him as unto the Twelve from hence it will appear also that what the Lord the Creator and Preserver of all Mankind said unto Hezekiah it is as much and the very same for we are to take and receive it all one as if the Lord God should speak to every Son and Daughter of Men that were Descendants from Adam and Eve whom He bath Created and calls them all by Names Set your Houses severally in Order for ye shall die and not live It is as certain and unavoidable that we shall die as that we now live We of our selves could not possibly hinder our selves from coming forth into life and the light of the Living For when and as soon as we were ready and ripe for the bringing forth we struggled in the Womb and the God of Nature ordered and provides a way for our coming forth from thence neither is it in the Knowledge or Power of the Embryo or Infant to strangle or suffocate it self in the Womb or of it self for it is done by the Mother or some other outward accident to pass away as the untimely Fruit of a Woman neither hath it Strength or Understanding immediately after it is brought forth to kill or destroy it self And as it grows up towards Manhood
or as a Garment which will wax old and wear away or like a Watch oâ— any other Motion only to continue so long and no longer even whilst the Pulse beats and whilst the Springs and Wheels of Life within do continue in Motion and Circulation I have often thought and admired within my self how the ever-living God unto whom all Flesh shall come doth summon and call for us severally through thâ— Postern-door and Gate of Death And when I have enquired and my Heart hath searched diligently out of the Scriptures of Truth what will become of us when we come to die searching what or what manner of thing it is to die truly the best and most intelligible account that I can give of it is this I find in the â—criptures that it is always expressed by these five or six manner of words Dying Deceasing Departing Yielding up the Ghost Gathering to his Fathers Falling asleep All which tend to one and near the same signification and so it doth if there be any other Phrase or Form of speech to express Death by And it came to pass as her Soul was in departing for she died Gen. 35. 8. which was spoken of Rachel And so when Elijah was to raise the Widows dead Son He streched himself upon the Child three times and cried unto the Lord and said O Lord my God I pray thee let this Child's Soul come into him again 1 Kings 17. 21. In the Margent there it is into his inward parts Besides these two plain and express Scriptures which do prove and confirm the matter in hand to this give all the Prophets and Scripture witness That Death is nothing else but a going out or departue of the Soul from the Body When the Soul or Ghost or Spirit is yielded up and committed and returns to that God who gave it And when the Holy Ghost Phraseth it by falling asleep thereby it would set forth that little pain or difficulty which is therein For they die in like manner and make no more of it than when we take our ordinary rest by sleep in our Beds This is commonly the Portion and distinguishing Character of the Godly and Righteous that they go out of this Body with Peace of Conscience and Peace towards God in which same sence that saying of the Disciples is true Lord if he sleepeth he shall do well Which will be so as to the future State if it be real Sleep and perfect Peace and not the Slumberings only of false Presumption But then as in Sleep we do not speak or act as when we are awake nor yet do we think clearly for Dreaming is but a kind of confused Imagination inasmuch as Death also doth take away the use of those faculties which in sleep are only suspended for a time therefore because that in this respect and for this reason it hath some resemblance and likeness to sleep the Spirit of God doth sometimes so compare and call it In Death the Soul is actually gone out of the Body but in sleep it seemeth only to lie a little more still Again the Body is as the House or Tenement but the Soul is the Inhabitant or Tenant thereof and as when that leaves it there is nothing seen but bare Walls and not any thing that hath life within So the Body is evidently seen to be but a meer Trunk Carcase or Lump of Clay when the Soul which is the life and did give it Beauty and ruddy colour which also doth vanish with it is gone out and departed from it Lord now lettest thou thy Servant depart in Peace according to thy Word Luke 2. 29. This one Scripture sâ—ews forth and confirms all those two or three Truths â—fore-spoken of The blessedness and desirableness of â—eparting in Peace that is Peace towards God Hereby again Death is shewn to be and is properly called a departure According to thy Word Hereby is shewn foâ—th and gathered that the Soul is only Tenant at Will to the Great Landlord of Heaven and Earth whâ—n she inhabits here in one of his little Houses or Cottages viz. the Body here on Earth And it is as much as if God should say to her at first Soul I allow thee to inhabit such an exact time in that little Tenement of Clay and when that time is expired thou must come out of it again But now The Sâ—cret of the Lord is with them that fear him Psal 25. 14. It sometimes happens that the Godly and Righteous do perceive and guess about the time God will have them to live here on this Earth It was revealed by the Holy Ghost to Simeon that he should not see Death before he had seen the Lord's Christ And so besides â—he example of Jacob Moses and Aaron and others Registred in the Book of the Lord I have read and heard of several of the Saints and Servants of God who have had it revealed unto them a considerable time before in their foregoing life near about what time and at what year of life they should die which hath accordingly so came to pass I my self have had a forebode for several years past that I should die about the three and thirtieth or the three and thirtieth year and an half of my life God knows whether it will be so And when the time draws nigh that Israel and so they that are of Israel must die they do with a willing mind resign and offer up their Soul unto God as in a readiness a little before that time comes Which is a thing plâ—asing and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour the God of the Spirits of all Flesh as we see by the example and good temper of this Simeon who was Just and Devout waiting for the Consolation of Israel And so we should wait beforehand for the Consolation which God will give unto his Servants if we do indeed serve him after that we are passed through this Vale of Tears and World of Misery It was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost that he should not see Death It is very proper and pertinent to the matter in hand to open and explain this manner of Speech of seeing Death The Infidel Ungodly Igâ—orant or Brutish Person may at first look upon it as a nonsensical and false kind of saying to see Death For Death closes and destroys the Eye sight that it can see nothing at all But to answer him Thou Fool that which thoâ— sowest is not quickened except it die Thou Ignorant Person I do here say and affirm then it is that we see most of all when Death hath destroyed all our Opticks and power of seeing and our Eyes are sunk into our Head I will prove and demonstrate it from this very Similitude of Things Do not we see more when we have the full and whole sight of a thing than when we look at or upon it only through a Crevice Hole or Chink Do not they see more who are at full liberty in
to Breathe forth Herâ—by is shewn forth the wonderful Workmanship and contrâ—vance of God that the Soul like the Godhead himself is purely an invisible Being We are to admire and say it is wonderful and to believe and be most fully satisfied that it is so although we cannot comprehend it And the Angel did wonderously and Manoah and his Wife looked on For it came â—o pass when the flame went towards Heaven from off the Altar then the Angel of the Lord ascended in the flame of the Altar Judg. 13. 19 20. Even so here it may be reasoned and supposed for it is a wonderful thing of God and his doing wonderously the thing is most true that when we stand by the Bed-side of our dying acquaintance we see nothing but a little struggling gasping or such like And yet it comes to pass that as the Creature lies upon his back or side his Soul goes up towards Heaven it returning to the God that gave it And as the Angel ascended in the flame even so the Soul expires and goes out in the Breath and we see it not But the dâ—ceasing Soul or rather after it is a deceased Soul sees it and this is a seeing Death The Wind bloweth where it listeth and thou hearest the sound thereof but thou dost not see it and canst not tell whence it cometh and whither it goeth So it may be truly reasoned and conceived of the Soul or Spirit The Soul did actuate the Body whilst it was therein and we did Hear See Taste hear and feel the Operations and Life thereof but we cannot tell exactly the particular Place from whence it came from God and Heaven in the General neither can we tell the particular Place where it goes only in the General that it is to return to God and to appear before him in Judgment and from thence to go away into Everlasting Punishment or into Life Eternal Mat. 25. 46. But further as to the exact Place Manner Time we cannot tell so as to describe it particularly as it is Again As thou knowest not what is the way of the Spirit nor how the Bones do grow in the womb of her that is with Child even so thou knowest not the works of God who maketh all Eccles 11. 5. We know not which way the Spirit came into the Infant whilst it was in the Womb by Creation and Infusion from God in the General neither do we know which way it takes as now we know Roads or Paths When the Breath of Man goes forth and he returns to his Earth his Spirit or Soul ascends up above the Clouds into the upper Parts of the World as may be understood from the Light and ascending Nature thereof as the same is in Smoke or Fire We may also perceive somewhat thereof whilst she is in the Body by liftings up of Spirit As Ecclesiastes saith Thou knowest not the Way of the Spirit nor yet the Works of God who maketh all Even so it is not to be expected that I should so make it known even from the Law and the Testimony and from the Light that is given me from thence and so describe what it is to see Death as People will find when they come severally to see and feel Death indeed Then they shall more clearly perceive the Truth of what hath been afore written when they shall in their individual Persons be brought down to the People of old Time It is well if in our Searching and Learning thereof we come somewhat near to the Truth By what hath been aforesaid a clear Apprehension Notion or Knowledge may be had what Death is or what it is to dye even for the Soul to go away of out of the Body And because it must after Death go to Judgment and from thence it shall go further into Everlasting Punishment or into Life Eternal Hence doth arise that doubt and fear of Soul which of these places it shall go away into As to this how to obtain the one and avoid the other to partake of the Blessing and escape the Cuâ—se to enter into Heaven and not fall into Hell to go away into Happiness and pass by Misery all Scripture is therefore given us of God for to Teach Instruct and Guide us herein even to make us wise unto Salvation The same and this only is or ought to be the end of all Books or Sermons I am sure it is the only intent of the present Treatise According to the Method and Favour which God afforded unto old Simeon we gather hence that it is a very great Blessing and distinguishing Mercy of God for he doth not vouchsafe this favour unto all but only to his Elect neither doth he deal so with every sort of People to have this revealed and manifested unto them that they shall not see Death before they see the Lord 's Christ It is reported of Julius Caesar that a little before he was Murdered in the Senate-Hoase that he did see the Apparition of himself in the form of a dead Man at which sight although he was a Mighty Man of Valour he was strangely astonished and struck with fear For so terrible was this sight of Death unto him that he did exceedingly fear and quake And truly well he might for he was an Heathen and Infidel and we can apprehend by the Gospel Revelation what will becomâ— of such after Death But our good old Simeon hy having seen the Lord's Christ before was sufficiently fore-armed and fortified against the sight of Death The reason whereof stands on this wise for as when the Chick sees the Kite or Hawk that would devour it if she can then run under the Hens wings into the Cub she is safe for as the Hen was instrumental at first to give it Life and Being so she will preserve it Even so it is here by seeing the Lord 's Christ who is appositely called the Prince of Life Acts 3. 15. The faithful Soul or the Soul that is Christ's runs and makes to Christ who promises and will perform it also I will gather my Children togethâ—r even as a Hen gathereth her Chickens under her wings Mat. 23. 37. He shall cover thee with his Feathers and under his wings thou shalt trust his Truth shall be thy Shield and Buckler Psal 91. 3. Then let Death and the Devil come to destroy that Soul if they can Here Christ is greater in Power and Might for asmuch then as the Children are partakers of Flesh and Blood he also himself took part of the same that through Death he might destroy him that had the power of Death that is the Devil And deliver them who through fear of Death were all their life-time subject to Bondage Heb. 2. 14 15. Simeon was one example to confirm this Truth for he being by the Lord Christ delivered from the fear thereof was not so astonished thereat as Caesar was or as other natural ungodly People now-a-days are Who though they name of Christ yet
they have no Benefit or Interest in him they being not within the Covenant and they have no Share nor Lot in this matter Even after Death hath destroyed the Body Christ will destroy that Now to destroy the Destroyer that is Salvation indeed Which again will be effected after it hath seized and done its worst and utmost upon us I will Ransom them from the power of the Grave whereby it may be understood that the Prince of Life will as it were force and command it so for God is greater in Power and Might I will Ransom them from Death As he first brought us into Life for it was the Word of God that Created us and the Wâ—rd of God is Christ and Christ is the Word of God and made us liable unto Dying and Death so he will rescue and bring us up from it again O Death I will be thy Plagues O Grave I will be thy Destruction Death hath been heretofore a Plague unto us and the Grave hath destroyed and crumbled our Body into dust when before it was safe and entire Flesh and Blood But God and Christ will in this sence Repent himself for his Servants and he will Plague this Plague and Destroy this Destroyer So that it shall be returned upon him and said O thou Enemy Destructions are come to a perpetual end Psal 9. 6. That is when the very same things which seem to be destroyed and come to nothing are raised up into Life and Being again never more to turn into Corruption nor yet to be subject unto Destruction All this stands ratified and confirmed with this kind of Speech Repentance shall be hid from mine Eyes Hos 13. 14. whereby is shewn forth the Immutability and â—â—â—edfastness of God's Councel and Determination hereiâ— For it is as much as if God should say I am resolved upon it I will never Repent nor alter from this my Decree and Purpose And when all these things shall so be then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written Death is swallowed up in Victory 1 Cor. 15. 24. which very words are quoted out of Isa 25. 8. He will swallow up Death in Victory and the Lord God shall wipe away all Tears from all Faces for the Lord hath spoken it Then also those words of Isa 38. 1. will be changed reversed read rung or rather they will be sung backwards For instead of Thou shalt die and not live then it will be returned and said to the unspeakable rejoycing and exultation of us Creatures Thou shalt live and not die After Hezekiah had heard those words from Isaiah Thou shalt die and not live he turned his Face to the wall and wept sore But it was just now quoted from another place of Isaiah the Lord God shall wipe away all Tears from off all Faces So that the same God who did see Hezekiah's Tears Isa 38. 5. will wipe them away in a particular eminent and visible manner and so of all his Saints and Servants By the way it is much better and greater Honour to have ones Name Registred and Recorded in the Book of the Lord or the Book of Life than to be Chronicled or to be had in the greatest Esteem by the World I do the more willingly make known and rehearse these things unto ye both because they do flow from that Foâ—ntain or Well of Truth which lies in our Text as alsâ— to beget in ye lovely apprehensions of God Truly he is a good God whom we serve And this is the besâ— Argument and Persuasion with Ingenious and Grateful Minds to serve him yet more and more To serve him yet more earâ—estly and continually yea and instantly If ye hope and expect to receive those future good things from 〈◊〉 hands of God furthermore then we beseech you Brethren and exhort you by the Lord Jesuâ— that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and please God so you would abound in it more and more 1 Thes 4. 1. Truly God is good to Israel even to such as are of a clean Heart Psal 73. 1. He is good to all Mankind indifferently and in the general but the mixt Multitude do not altogether so much discern his goodness For if they did they would never carry themselves so Evil Rebellious and Despising towards him as now they do But in an especial manner God is good to such as are of a clean Heart or clean of Heart And here reciprocally again those who are of a clean Heart do behold and know the Goodness of God more than the common sort of People do For whereas on the other worse side one sin retained and dwelling in a Man is the Root that beareth Gall and Wormwood and is the cause of all that Alienation from and Enmity towards God none being Enemies to him but through their own wicked works So again on the other hand this cleanness of heart is like the pulling or rubbing of filth filmn or scales from our Eyes in order to help our Eye-sight or in order that we may see clearly For as aforesaid every like loves its like An Holy God loves and accepts of an Holy Soul So here again it is there being a proportionableness and suitableness herein a clean Heart knows this proposition better than others God is good A clean Heart sees farther than another kind of Heart for it can see God through the Cloud It can see the goodness of God not only in the Land of the Living but also when it walks through the Valley of the shadow of Death I will fear no Evil why so for thou art with me Psal 23. 4. A clean Heart doth see a good God yea and a sweet God even through the darkness and bitterness of Death I have read it as a saying of those whom they call the Wittier sort of Atheists that People in the general are afraid of Death as Children are afraid to walk in the dark for fear to meet Hobgoblings which we Men know there is no such thing and from thence they would ground their Imaginations or Dictates of Unbelief But in their Answers there remaineth falshood and miserable Comforters are they all For as sure as we now live and fear several things in the World there is somewhat real also to be feared after Death for as there are other parts of the World besides this Earth as Rivers Seas and we may look up and behold the Stars in their Courses So in like manner it may be evidenced and demonstrated that there is an immortal Spirit in Man as well as a dying Body But so far I will make use of that saying of theirs That to the Children of God to the Heirs of Life and Immortality although they are partakers of Flesh and Blood and 't is this only which Death can hurt yet to the main and in the utmost Death is but as a Hobgoblin Phantasm or Apparition There is little reality in it for it is not properly a thing or
Being as the Logicians and Metaphysicians say But only a Dissolution of a Thing and a Privation of a Being And that is only as to the Body which is as the breaking of a Shell towards the hatching or bringing forth of a Chicking or as a Woman when she is in Travel hath Pain and Anguish till the bringing forth of her Child But after that is born she remembers no more the Pain or Anguish for joy that a Child is born into the World Even so through the Pain and Languishing of Death the Soul is born and comes forth into the invisible World and she remembers no more the Pangs and Throws and Anguish she felt by the Body dropping from her as she came through the Gate of Death and now she is in an Happy and Blessed State But this is only the favour God bears unto his own People and the Heritage of the Servants of the Lord No Weapon that is formed against them shall prosper Isa 54. 17. For though the Devil thought to make an end of them and destroy them utterly by Sin and Death yet they are escaped whole and safe through them both It is only to such who have this Blessing and Mark of Favour from God as to see the Lord's Christ before they see Death It is these that dâ—part in Peace The People of that Generation did see Christ in the days of his Flesh We of this present Generation may see Christ in his Grace and Revelation which is full of Mercy Goodness and Truth Simeon took up the Child Jesus in his Arms and Blessed God Even so we may go yet nearer and farther and take up Christ and receive him into our Hearts This is seeing the Lord 's Christ in our days when we see him within us with the Eyes of Faith or with the Eyes of our Understanding being enlightened When what we have heard we have seen with our eyes we have looked upon and our hands have handled of the Word of Life for the Life was manifest and we have seen it and bear witness and shew uâ—to you Eternal Life which was manifest unto us or rather within us And so Paul saith by the Spirit unto those to whom he writes Little Children of whom I travail in birth until Christ be formed in ye The same is the end of all our Preaching to beget Christ formed in you which is a work of time and by degrees And if this be done ye will never see Death Eternal Though ye will for all see the first Death for Moses is dead and the Prophets are dead yet ye will never be hurt by the second Death SERMON V Isaiah 38. 1. Set thine House in Order for thoâ— shalt Die and not live TO see the Lord 's Christ before we see Death is to be a Partaker of the Divine Nature to have the Christian or Christ-like Nature formed and fashioned within us And that not in part or in some things only bâ—â— in the whole and throughout And the very God 〈◊〉 Peace Sanctifie you wholly and I pray God your whole Spirit and Soul be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lorâ— Jesus Christ This word wholly and whole being repeated twice here in the same verse doth shew that thâ— Holy Ghost doâ—h lay exceeding much stress and necessitâ— thereon As the Soul doth actâ—ate the whole Body eveâ— so Christ should actuate the Soul throughout and wholly But here is the fault and failure of the generalitâ— of People of those who call themselves Christian whether they be of the straiter Sect of the Christiaâ— Religion whatever it be or whatever they are called for they would pretend unto others and seem to themselves to be more Holy Real and Sincere in their Christian Profession and the Service of God than others I profess truly I do not love to name the distinguishing Names for I would that the time were once come as it is drawing on in these latter days When the Lord shall be one and his Name one and then all those Nick-names of the several Sorts and Sects of Christianity will be laid aside and be used no more in our Tongue But it hath been my Observation a long time and I seldom knew it fail that when I have came near and beheld the Lives and Manner of Conversation of the Dissenters who seem to be more Religious than ordinary who talk so much of Christ I find that they are for taking up Christ in some yea perhaps in most but not in all things And whereas he that keeps Christ's Sayings shall never see Death John 8. 51. Yet they do not keep and obey that last Commandment which Christ Jesus is Recorded to have given as consequently comprehensive and of greatest concernment of all the rest Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever he hath commanded us Matth. 28. 20. But contrariwise several of them do break some or more of these least Commandments and teach Men so Matth. 5. 19. Do not some break or rather neglect those his lesser Commandments concerning Baptism and the Lord's Supper which he commanded to do in Remembrance of him These are lesser Commandments which are only the possitive outward Duties or Ordinances of Religion in comparison to the greater things of the Law which concern intrinsick Good or Evil Right or Wrong Again doth another sort observe strictly the weightier matters of the Law Judgment Justice and Mercy For it hath been observed of those who are called Rigid Strict Presbyterians â—hat they have been given unto Oppression Injurious Dealing all for their own ends an Heart they have exercised with covetous practices cursed Children 2. Pet. 2. 14. And they have been noted to be Stubborn Perverse Blood-thirsty and Cruel Which is as contrary to Mercy one of the weightier matters of the Law as Darkness is to Light And so that together with their Pervereness is as diametrically opposite to Long-Suffering the Gentleness and Mâ—ekness of Christ as any thing in the World can be Now if you charge any of them closely and talk with them of these things they have a parcel of Sayings and Excuses as indeed all Sin and Transgression hath its excuse There being nothing so bad in the World but somewhat may be said for it Distinctions and Traditions of their own whereby they would make the Commandments of God of none effect So it is evident they break one of his least Commandments and teach Men so Which Disobedience and Prevarication of theirs shews that Christ the Wisdom of the Father who knew was in Man had not supposed against a vain and unlikely thing such as would never happen for these do contrary and different unto it every day But what is the consequence or harm of breaking of one of the least of those his Commandments and teaching Men so He shall be called the least in the Kingdom of Heaven which there signifies the Ministration or Profession of the Gospel This Gospel being to prepare us for and get us
heard a a Sermon in their Life as there is hardly any one in this Nation who hath not heard a Sermon unless some ignorant Papists who are next door to Atheists Whither they do Hope to go to Heaven Every one will say that they do But the Scripture here saith Every Man presseth into it To explain the very sence and meaning of that Word it will be necessary to use this instance and similitude suppose that we did see or word was brought unto us that all such an House wherein was a great Assembly of People were on Fire what running and scampering would there be to the doors And each one would press upon another who could get out first The Parallel place in Mat. 11. 12. especially the Marginal Reading thereof confirms this very same Acceptation and Signification of the Word for there it is on this wise And from the Days of John the Baptist until now the Kingdom of Heaven suffereth violence and the violent take it by foâ—ce In the Margent there it is gotten by force and they that thrust Mâ—n Which last is as much as to say that People are for all by Nature luggish so that they would not run and press enough of themselves in such a Case of Necessity and Danger But we Ministers and Preachers of the Word must also thrust them on For so it is the door of the Kingdom of Heaven stands and is held open by the Preaching and Ministry of the Word But in as much as the Fathers where are they and do the Prophets live for ever Both Preachers and Hearers must dye the Death So that the door is not always open to them And as to this again the rule iâ— certain that if any one doth not in this Life which is the time oâ— Probation and Trial on this account do things worthy to stand before the Son of Man or to which Heaven is promised unless He doth the Commandments of God that He may have right to the Tree of Life and may enter in through the Gates into the City unless People bring forth fruits meet for Repentance and so except People do things meet for Heaven before they die they will never go to Heaven after that they die As to that important Question What we must do to be saved or how much we must do to be saved Or to get into Heaven In these two foregoing Texts it is said The Kingdom of Heaven suffereth Violence and the violent take it by force Every Man presseth into it Strive to enter into the streight Gate Luke 13. 24. It hath been observed by the learned in that Language that the Word strive in the Original Greek doth require to put forth the utmost Strength even until we break a Vein and the Blood gusheth forth which none of the Lazy Formalists meer outward Worshippers and nominal Christians can pretend unto and so again we read That the Righteous shall scarcely be saved And indeed throughout the Scriptures and the Gospel especially there are scattered up and down so many true sayings of God concerning the exceeding difficulty danger and fear of disappointment herein that they who have enquired and searched diligently therein of the very Terms and Condiâ—ions of this Salvation do truly make this return upon their whole search and enquiry of this matter That the Kingdom of God is a Pearl of great Price which if a Man would buy and obtain he must sell all that he hath and give for it Who knows this better than our Saviour Jesus Christ who is the Author of this Salvation and understands upon what Terms it is to be had So we must sell all that we have all Sin Evil and Wickedness which is properly our own We must part with all the Guilt and Corruption that is in our Nature all that savours of Sin or of our selves and so all that savours of the World or of the Devil is to be renounced utterly and we are to dispossess our selves thereof in order to have that Pearl of great Price For less than this cannot be to make room for Christ to be formed in us Forasmuch as he will not dwell with any Evil or with a Body that is leavened or tainted with Sin Now if People will not bid up to the Price which the Lord hath put upon it they must go away without it they have neither Part nor Lot in this matter for their Heart is not right and whole in the sight of God Behold I have told you before and I do hereby warn People of as much before hand against the Time they shall see it fulfilled and found true in the valley of Derision that all People will not go to Heaven who now seek to go to Heaven For many now-a-days talk of Heaven who will never go there For there will be rejected at the last day those who have Prophesied in Christ's Name and in his Name have cast out Devils and in his Name have done many wonderful Works One may Preach throughout all his Life unto others and be a cast-a-way for all that For it is equally possible for a Preacher or Minister for a Priest or Clergy-Man to be damned as for any other Person I am to look to this and to take heed to my self least the Devil deceive me also O the exceeding subtlety of the old Serpent even whiâ—â—â— I am laying down Rules out of the Scriptures of Truth to prevent his deceiving of others See ye well to it therefore all that shall hear or read this that now the Kingdom and Word of God is a Preaching unto you that every one of ye do press in thereat and now in these days the Kingdom of Heaven suffereth Violence and the violent take it by force Looking diligently least any Man fail of the Grace of God left there be any Fornicator or Profane Person as Esau and so it is applicable in like manner if there be any Sinner in any kind who for one Morsel of Meat sold his Birthright for ye know how that afterward when he would have inherited the Blessing he was rejected for he found no place for Repentanâ—e though he sought it carefully with Tears And so when your Souls are shut under Hatches by Death then if ye would labour for Hâ—aven and strive for Heaven and ye would then do the Will of God yet ye would be rejected and not accepted Ye will find no place for Repentance no room for seeking nor yet striving to enter in at the strait Gate though ye should seek it carefully with Tears Ye may cry out and howl to all Eternity Lord Lord open to us when the door is shut for ye should have pressed and strove and run yea we Ministers of the Gospel do push and thrust ye on dull Beasts as ye are with the Prick and Goad of the Word which is committed to our Ministration to enter in thereat whilst the door was open I have read of one who was converted and brought over to a
whilst we are thus continually dying on this Earth we shall thus wait till our change shall come The word of Instruction which doth arise from hence is that we should endeavour to be as like God and as like Christ as ever we can in all his Communicable Attributes and Perfections for so far as we are partakers of his Holiness or of his Image and Likeness here we shall be assuredly partakers of his Happiness and Blessedness hereafter Thou shalt die and not live There is no need to insist much or enlarge further upon that Subject Death is common to all for who knows not this already Who knows not also that we do continually from time to time haste and approach nearer and nearer unto it As also who knows not that we are in a World of Transitory Perishing and Dying things but Faith teaches and instructs that all this is in order to that which shall remain See Isa 66. 22. and is Eternal and Life for evermore Accordingly we find and feel within our selves although we are subject to Mortality yet thoughts and desires after Immortality Which same thoughts and desires can never be in vain but there is also a real Object of Immortality though as yet it is unseen to whom the same do relate There doth arise in us afaintness and anguish at the thorough consideration of the perishing nature of things which is sensible and may be perceived For as when it was told Saul To morrow thou shalt be with me that is in the state of the dead then Saul fell straitway all along on the Earth and was sore afraid because of the words of Samuel and there was no strength in him So it is at the thorough apprehension and knowledge of this thing of perishing Corruption and Mortality we become as of no strength free among the dead and we have less strength at the thoughts before hand that Death at length will take all strength from us Because that things by their perishing do seem to be vain therefore doth arise vexation of Spirit and we could wish it were otherwise and not so Yea that it is not so we have assured hopes It is usually now reckoned an enhancement of misery when we know better and yet we cannot have and enjoy it For if one had never known â—or conceived of the worth or goodness of such a thing the disappointment for missing thereof would not have been so vexatious And so here it is God having implanted in all Men whatsoever some knowledge and expectation of enduring Eternal and satisfactory things the ungodly have a little glimpse or glimmering thereof by natural Understanding like him that was born blind who saw Men as Trees but the Godly have a full Light and Sight thereof by Faith now here when every thing seems to perish and pass away and not a satisfie fully there doth arise Anguish Vexation and secret Thought in the Creature towards the Creator as if we were only tantalized that is put near what we cannot obtain or put in expectation of what is not at all But it is not so with us For only the matter is thus God doth all things in his own order The thing is true though the time appointed for it is long God dâ—â—â— in the life that now is and on this Earth give us onlâ— his Perishing Transitory and Imperfect good things The things that I have given them shall pass away from them Jer. 8. 13. Which are on this respect suitable to our condition here for that also is Perishing Imperfect Transitory and passing away But his Abiding Eternal Pesrect and Satisfactory things O I shall be satisfied when I awake with thy likeness Psal 17. 15. these he hath reserved and will give unto such of the reasonable Inhabitants thereof as shall be found meet and worthy after they are gone and removed off from this Earth in the future State Distribution and Restitution of all things For we have all things here in part and by way of taste and earnest But when that which is perfect is come then that which is in part shall be done away Now here on this Earth is sensibly and evidently seen Cursing Vexation and Reâ—uke in what People set their hand unto for to do Deut. 28. 20. And the Lord gives to some a trembling heart and a failing of eyes and sorrow of mind ver 67. Neither is this only the Portion of the Children of Disobedience but even as a precious Saint and Servant of God could say My Flâ—sh and my Heart faileth but God is the strength of my Heart and my Portion for ever It is sensibly seen that in Declining or Old Age or under languishing and pining sickness from day even to night wilt thon make an end of me Isa 38. 12. when the Flesh is withered like a stick it being shriveled away and there is little more than skin and bones when like Barzillai it cannot taste what we eat or drink nor hear any more the voice of singing Men and Women when sence can no longer relish but it is as it were benummed and dead as to all Creature-Comforts when the Arm of Flesh is withered Cursed is he that trusteth in the Arm of Flesh and its poor helps fail then also the heart doth evidently fail away with the Flesh and the anguish of Spirit doth so break forth that the Spirit it self which did heretofore sustain a man's infirmities can no longer pacifie and speak true and solid comfort but then as when the People talked of stoning David because the Soul of all the People was vexed and it is before said That he and his People lift up their Voice and wept until they had no more power to weep but David encouraged himself in the Lord his God 1 Sam. 30. 4. 5. 6. So when all these things fail and slide away from us in which was our Comfort and Well being as to this World and when conâ—rariwise the Rain descends and the Floods come and the Winds blow and beat upâ—n our House And dangerous Diseases Poverty the Consumption of Age and the Seeds of Mortality like those ill-natured People to Dâ—vid do rhreaten to stone us Nay they will certainly do it at length and try to make us miserable and utterly destroy and make an end of us if either of them is possible Here if we can encourage our selves in the Lord our God or say not with good words or Scripture Phrases only but by way of saving and feeling â—ruth God is the strength of my Heart and my Portion for ever So that we may be provided against the time now when our Flesh and our Heart shall fail till they come to an utter end as to the things of this World O then it is well with us and happy shall it be We know that now the manner and practice of the World is that where oâ—e is only a Rack-renter or Tenant at Will of a good Bargain if the Landlord is resolved to put him
to be Though hereby it may be perceived I had almost said seen that there is a Devil and Satan who deceiveth the whole World and turneth even them aside who would seem more wise and knowing than the common sort from the things that belong to their Peace or otherwise they would not as now they do only because forsooth they are waxen fat they are grown thick they are covered with fatness then Oh horrible degeneracy and ingratitude to forsake God which made them and lightly esteem the Rock of their Salvation Deut. 32. 15. nor yet would they lightly esteem the Word of God's Ministry by whomsoever or wheresoever it is faithfully and truly used and held forth the only drift and design whereof is to set forward the common Salvation of Mankind A third observable Scripture which is to confirm and establish the Truth and Reasoning of our whole present Discourse as indeed it all comes to one and the same thing even to be provided of a well-being elsewhere as soon and immediately after we are deprived of a Being at all as to this Life and on this Earth This Scripture is contained in all these three Verses put together Put not your trust in Princes nor in the Son of Man in whom there is no help His Breath goeth forth he returneth to his Earth in that very day his Thoughts perish And then it immediately succeeds Happy is He that hath the God of Jacob for his help whose Hope is in the Lord his God Psalm 146. 3 4 5. To say absolutely that there was no help in Man would seem false and untrue for many times Man our Fellow-Creature is helpful unto us in several instances He that giveth an Alms is helpful and instrumental to preserve Life But as the Spirit speaketh elsewhere Her Merchandize shall be for them that dwell before the Lord to eat sufficiently and for durable cloathing Isa 23. 18. so as to help sufficiently and proportionably to its need and for durable help in this sence there is no help in Man For in the Case here put when the Time comes that his Breath must go forth can all the Men or Physicians in the World help or hinder it I trow not Can all the Kings of the Earth with all their Armies protect any one whatever from a Mortal and inward Disease In no sort And then the help of Man is not durable He may help now and then for a Time but he cannot help always Now seeing that we have within us an enduring substance a Soul which may and will be happy or miserable which will be saved or damned after it is dislodged from the Body here if she should cry out as thâ— Woman of Tekoah did help O King or as another Woman cried unto the King of Israel saying Help my Lord O King and He said if the Lord do not help whence shall I help Or as it is said in the Book of Job to which of the Saints wilt thou turn thee And so if the Soul cry out for help to the Ministers or Saints of the Lord neither Rulers nor Ministers nor Saints can afford sufficient and durable help to the saving of the Soul See Psalm 47. 7 8. They can no more save her after she is gone out of the Body then they could preserve her from going out of the Body when the appointed and set Time is come Then Happy is He that hath the God of Jacob for his help In him alone is our help in him alone is our Salvation and whose Hope is in the Lord his God or who hath Hope well-grounded that God will save her to whom God will prove helpful and the Object of his Desire or Hope and not a punishing Judge or a Terrour to us in the Day of Evil. The short of the Matter is this and herein is the Happiness of the Mortal Creature if at the instant when his Breath goeth forth his Spirit is committed into thy Hands O God who art ever-living And if when his Thoughts perish as to this World his Soul is lodged in Abrahams Bosom the Father of the faithful from whose Loins we descended For assuredly the God of Abraham here called the God of Jacâ—b for both live â—nto him and are happy in him at this Day though to our thinking Abraham is dead and Jacob is dead will be that unto his Creatures Souls for all Souls are his both by Creation and Redemption what a Breast or Bosom is to a cold Infant newly come out of his Mothers Womb. The sum of all our Exhortation is to this Effâ—ct Sceing that we must all Dye and not Live I have had many a shrug at the lively apprehension thereof and at the sence of the near approach thereof both immediately after my Nights Sleep and my Noon-days Slumber and then we shall Live again and not Dye it is as reasonable and natural to desire to be Happy after Death all one as we desire to see good in these days of our Flesh and to pass through here as comfortably and as pleasantly as we may Is there any one that doth not desire to live comfortably and pleasantly in this World No every Mothers Son doth desire this If we would receive into our Minds the Knowledge and Faith thereof God hath implanted into every Man and Woman the same earnest desire after Heaven as now He or She hath after Life and Happiness For seeing that by the Decree of God and from the very order and establishment of Things we must live for ever for we shall always remain in Being although we must go through the valley and shadow of Death or through the Postern-Door or Gate of Death I say again it is altogether as natural and reasonable to desire to be Happy after Death all one as it is sensibly desired to be Happy before Death And as in order to this it is requisite to use such and such means so to be Happy after Death It is absolutely necessary to go in the way and to do all those things which God hath chalked out and shewed in his written Word and there is alike and greater Reason yea ten thousand times more as that is as much longer and of greater concern that we should comply with and do thereafter As the hungry craves after Food the ambitious Honour the sensualist Pleasure and every one desires Rest and Satisfaction and they will also use the common means in their Power towards having of them So there is a desire implanted in Man after those good things God hath promised And it is but reasonable that He should do so much towards the obtaining of them I say infinitely more as the Children of this World do for the things of this World or otherwise they will never be Children of Light and Heirs of Life and Immortality But they will come short of the future great and good things of God for these also are set forth by the very same things in a greater degree than
what is so earnestly followed after here So that it is evident where they are believed and received they must perswade Men for the very same Considerations do actually perswade and also prevail with Men as to all other things In a Word the practice of universal Religion which is the fear of God and keeping his Commandments or rather the confirming of all the Words of his Law and Gospel by our doing of them comes and stands enforced with such uncontroulable Arguments that where they are received into the Mind and pondered in the Heart they must of Necessity weigh down incline and sway the Mind towards God and the good things pertaining to his Kingdom And after all were there not a Devil and Satan the unseen Enemy of Mankind who yet for all deceiveth the Nations and deceiveth the whole World It would be if not morally impossible yet highly improbable that not so much as one of the Sons or Daughters of Men should perish Whereas now by the manifold kind of Imaginations and Excuses which that invisible Tempter whispers and suggests to the Hearts of the Children of Disobedience to despise God that formed them in their despising the Ministration of his Word and some way or other to turn aside from or deceive in that Religion which is to the saving of the Soul that after all the Preaching and Hearing which hath been in the World the greater part of both Preachers and People will be cast-a-ways and perish for ever Things have been and are so transacted all along that those few Preachers which shall be saved as also those few Hearers that shall be saved for there is only but a fourth Part of the Hearers of the Word Matth. 13. and Mark 4. that will be saved by it And then what will become of the Multitude of Non-Hearers They shall certainly perish and be destroyed without Remedy But the Hearers that shall be saved will stand by and assent that it was so when the Preachers that shall be saved shall make this or the like return at the last great Day of Judgment I have spread out my hands all the day unto a Râ—bellious People Isa 65. 2. or as the Words are a little varied in the Gospel but to the same purpoâ—â— and signification All day long have I stretched forth my hands to a disobedient and gain-saying People Rom. 10. 21. which will be found true not as to Israel only but to the whole of Mankind of the several Generations and Countreys To use the same Hezekiah's Phrase who gave occasion to the Words of our Text on which so many things have been Discoursed What shall I say after all by way of Practical Use Inference and Application to the whole Several do object and needlesly find fault that I do not digest and compose my Sermons as other Preachers do by way of Doctrine Use and Application Whereas my manner of Preaching to those that understand me throughly is Doctrine Use and Application all along by making known plain Propositions and Sentences of Truth and that not so much Speculative Notional Truth but Practical Soul saâ—ing Truth And in the several Sentences of this there is Doctrine Use and Application For it teaches and instructs and Edifies and it is the Hearers business to apply it to their Heart and Conscience Use and Application is altogether as proper in the beginning of a Sermon as towards the end thereof When many things have been said upon one particular subject it is hard to add much more and not say over again what hath been already said However let us endeavour to raise a Practical Use or Inference or two from the whole Is it so then that we must Dye and not Live This may teach us in the first Place to be in good earnest in Matters of Religion or upon the Evening and making up our accounts with God with whom we have to do and to whom we must give them up One saith well We should not alâ—ogether live in Jest for we shall certainly dye in Earnest And there is another common Proverbial Speech That if ever People will be serious they will be serious upon their Death-Bed For then the Ruffling Royster Jolly Person and most merry Man of the World can no longer laugh when Death doth once begin to fix and set his Countenance and the Pangs thereof which are real and sensible have once bâ—gan to strike him But now as it is written surely every Man walketh in a vain shew in the Margent there it is an Image surely they are disquieted in vain â—salm 39. 6. So all our Life here whether it meet with good and pleasant things it is all but a vain shew laughter and People make a Jest and Light of it or if it be trouble and disquietude they are also vain So that we are only carried from one vain extream to another But when we shall die and not live or rather enter into that State wherein we shall Live and Die no more then we shall meet with 〈…〉 and Realities Saith Wisdom All that love me shall inherit Substance Which being spoken in the Future Tense hath reference to the Future State of Things And accoâ—dingly we may observe that as Man is endued with Wisdom or not so he shews himself accordingly affectâ—d with present things or seeks afâ—er the things to come A little thing puffs up a Bubble and Man being but a Bubble therefore it is that he is soon lifted up and transported But whoso is endued with real Wisdom He cannot take Pleasure in Fools Mirth or in an Idle Jest Who are passed over the Festivities of Childhood and Youth they cannot still shew themselves transported with Vanities All the Jesting and Merriment in the World can never make up the true Happiness because it is not satisfactory nor yet enduring And so all Jesting and Merriment is like the crackling of Thornâ— under a Pot which make a sudden Blaze and Noise but give no solid heat In the midst of Laughter the Heart is sorrowful But if it is not so yet all Worldly and sensible delights are but as one single mouthful of Meat to an hungry Man which rather excites the Appetite further and after more than satisfies iâ— So worldly and sensible Delights raise Anguish how insufficient and short these things are of a true and inward satisfaction O ye Sons of Men how long will ye love Vanity and seek after Leasing Psalm 4. 3. But it would not be altogether so bâ—d if all their Jesting and Vanity was confined to those things only For it is also crept into things pertaining to God and to Religion For besides that there is a more gross sort of the Spirit of prophaneness mocking and drollery at the Things pertaining to God which is the Abomination of Iniquity and most provoking in his sight there is also a lesser kind of lesting or rather lightness therein which is also offensive and displeasing to the God with whom we have to