Selected quad for the lemma: death_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
death_n	good_a	life_n	see_v	9,943	5	3.4753	3	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A56309	The weavers shuttle displayed and the swiftness thereof unfolded, or, The words of a dying man to a dying people, in the midst of a dying nation wherein is held forth I. That the time is short, the way is narrow, the prize is great, the runners are many, the obtainers few, II. That repentance and turning to God is not in one call or command, wherefore wait upon the means appointed by God to work it, and that diligently and constantly this work deferred will be still greater, the time to do it wil[l] be shorter, the strength to do it by wil[l] be less, III. If we endeavour to the uttermost to improve the present opportunity and ability that the Almighty gives us, we shall, for ought I know, live with more comfort here and die in full assurance hereafter, for the greatest evil threatned or feared, may through wisdom be timely prevented / by Robert Purnel.	Purnell, Robert, d. 1666.	1652 (1652)	Wing P4244; ESTC R32258	54,417	168

yet to live then consider that half of this thirty years will be slept out and then there remains but fifteen years and the half of this fifteen years will be spent in pains and care to provide for thy self and Family and then there remains but seven years and a half and in the half of this thou wilt have some unexpected sickness and weakness which man that is born of a woman is subject unto and then there remains but three years three quarters and the half of this will be spent in mourning for some losses or crosses in thy Wife Children Kindred and Friends and so there doth not remain so much as two years of peace and quiet for thee to minde thy soul this struck the man into such a damp that he went away sorrowfull as the young man in the Gospel did from Christ Matth. 19. 22. Oh let us redeem that precious jewel of time which we have formerly lost Travellers that have staid a little too long at their Inn when they do find the night approaching they mend their pace and go as many miles in one hour as they did before in two so let us do we have staid too long in doating upon the things of this life and in setting our eyes and hearts upon that which is not the World it was Created of nothing saith the Lord and it hangs upon nothing saith Job Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not saith Solomon Pro. 23. 5. I remember a passage that many years since I read in a little Book called Good News from Heaven between Wealth and his worldly Master at the point of death 1. First Wealth seeing his Master dying saith Well Master thus long have I served you or rather you have served me for you have loved me too much and doted upon me and therefore now you be like to speed the worse you was my Master in shew but I was yours indeed for you did what I would have you do thus far have I gone with you but further I will not I have nothing to do in another world now therefore Master shift for your self if you go to Hell I cannot help it I will go seek me a new Master adieu Ans Master Nay saith his Master I hope thou wilt not serve me so now I have most need of thee many a nights rest have I broken for thee many an hour have I bestowed on thee many a good Feast yea many a Sermon and good opportunity for my soul have I lost for thee Wealth Wealth The more fool thou Master who bid you do so not God I am sure but the Devil and therefore to him you are like to go that set you on work or whither you go I know not nor care not but further to go with you I will not Master Nay Wealth I pray thee say not so that goeth to my very heart go answer for me or at least speak a good word for me Wealth Not I nay I am sure you shall answer for me and your self too and to tell you the truth I doubt the place is too hot for me where you are going but go try Master first how you shall speed and if you do not like the place if you can get leave to come back again I may chance to serve you again believe it who list look look here comes death quivering in your lips quaking in your joynts staring in your eyes I cannot endure the sight of him oh draw the Curtains shift for thy self Master I will shift for one Master What dost thou mock me to increase my misery and dolor What wilt thou leave me thus in the straits Oh that I were to live in the World again I would care as little for thee as thou doest now for me Oh base Vagrant have I thus entertained thee like a Prince for this Oh all ye People of the World be admonished by me a dying man take heed how you give entertainment as I have to this Vagabond cheating Wealth that wanders up and down the World but lay up treasure in Heaven not on the earth and that speedily For man that is born of a woman is of few days saith David and they pass away faster then the Weavers Shuttle saith Iob thou shalt cut off thy life like a Weaver saith the Prophet Isaiah and then if thou hast improved thy talent redeemed thy time and given all diligence to make thy Calling and Election sure for ought I know thou mayest die in full assurance of true blessedness which consisteth not in honour for then Pharaoh had been blessed not in wit for then Achitophel had been blessed not in wealth for then Ahab had been blessed but herein will thy blessedness be that thou indeavourest to be found cloathed with the Robe of Christs righteousness in comparison of which thy own is as dung Phil. 3. 8 9. Looking upon thy self as thou art in thy self as a Tree the body where of is iniquity the Leaves of it is Atheism the Rine pretends perfection the Sap thereof is Humane Reason the Buds swelling words the Fruit of it uncleanness but as thou art taken off from the old stock the first Adam and grafted into the new stock the second Adam thy blessedness lies here in this Root from whence thou receivest sap and becomest a new Tree which may be known by its Root which is Christ by its soil in which it grows which is Free-Grace planted in the House of the Lord and by its body which is Faith by its Bark which is Hope by its Boughs which is Charity by its Leaves which is Spiritual Vertues by its Branches which is good words by its Fruit which is good works This Tree shall stand up with boldness when the other Tree shall fear and shake if he look up there is his Judge offended with him beneath him Hell open and the Furnace boiling ready to receive him on thy right hand thy sins accusing on thy left hand the Devils ready to execute Gods Sentence upon thee within thee thy conscience gnawing without thee all damned souls bewailing on every side the World burning and this dreadfull day will come suddenly as a thief in the night 2 Pet. 3. Therefore while thou hast thy legs let them carry thee to the Assemblies of Zion run to and fro that thy knowledge may be increased thy legs may be taken from thee While thou hast thy hearing listen diligently thou mayst speedily be deaf as many be already While thou hast thy hands let them minister to the necessity of the Saints while thou hast any estate give somthing of it lest thou dost repent too late All these things be mutable and fleeting thy dayes be swifter then the Weavers shuttle and thou mayest lose these before thou dost lose thy life All men had one entrance into life and shall have the like going out In a word thou and I have forfeited our lives many times The wages of sin is death Every sin

died and rose again even so them also which sleep in Iesus will God bring with him The Holy Ghost in this place forbiddeth not Christian sorrow for the dead but Heathenish sorrow not moderate but excessive and immoderate either in respect of time or measure of our grief we may water our plants for our deceased Friends but not drown them 7. Let us consider the priviledges of Believers after death for death is unto them but a Porter opening a door into a dark entry or a servant of thy Fathers sent to put thy dear friend to bed for a little while till corruption shall have put on incorruption and mortality shall have put on immortality Death is but a sleep and the grave a bed and all things that be on the other side death are taken away by Iesus Christ Death openeth the great gate that leadeth to thy Fathers house that so thou mayest go home for we are but Sojourners Pilgrims and Strangers here in this World it is true unbelievers are at home whiles they live here they be called the inhabitants of the earth and dwellers upon the earth when they die they do not go home as thou doest it is true they go to their own place and to their own Father so that death to them is the King of Terrours but to thee and thy believing deceased Friend death should be looked upon as the Messenger of glad tidings which is come only to crack the clay walls which is our Prison that you may flie home and be at rest and when thou comest home to enjoy the presence of thy Father and Saviour Christ and to be filled with the Spirit and to be with all the holy Saints of Heaven thou wilt then rejoyce with joy unspeakable and full of glory 8. Let us consider that although I and thee be like to loose our own lives or else have lost some of our nearest and dearest friends yet let this comfort us this also shall work together for our good Rom. 8. 28. Wherefore let us not so fear death but hearken what death doth whisper in thy ears saying fear not me I came from the Father and have no Commission to hurt you although my countenance be grim my message is sweet and pleasing Christ your beloved husband hath taken my sting from me before he would let me come to you I am come without a sting to tell you that God and Christ loves you and hath sent me on purpose to invite you into their presence where is fulness of joy and pleasures at his right hand for evermore only you must put off your filthy garments that the earth may return to its earth the fire to its fire the water to its water the aire to its aire for these were the Elements thy body was made of and so thou must endure a little pain in putting off these cloaths they be somewhat little and strait but thou must with Paul put off this earthly Tabernacle for that must be dissolved before thou canst be with Christ in whose presence there is fulness of joy where all relations will be made up in God there is no complaining in the Streets of this new Ierusalem no want of Relations God will be a Father Christ will be a Husband Saints gloryfied our Brethren Sisters and associates so we shall want no Relation neither shall any Relation want Perfection There is but a breath between thee and this condition 9. Let us consider that the Scripture doth pronounce them blessed that die in the Lord Rev. 14. 13 For from henceforth they rest from their labours See Eccles 4. 2. Job 3. 17. The greatest evil death can bring unto us is but a more speedy way to happiness Lastly let us consider that our dear beloved brother David although he mourned fasted and prayed whilst his Child was sick yet as soon as it was dead he arose and began to comfort himself saying I shall go to it ere long for my dayes are swifter then the Weavers shuttle saith Job Then shall the dust return to its earth saith Solomon Eccles 12. 7. The dust that is the body to shew the original of it Gen. 2. 7. and the weakness of it Dust is the weakest part of the earth Psal 103. 14. the basest and vilest of it Job 4. 19. Phil. 3. 21. Job 30. 19. Our original from the dust our return unto the dust This should humble us in our own eyes and should warn us to improve all our ability and every opportunity to make our calling and election sure that there might be nothing wanting in us to secure a better life before this be ended and not to put off the endeavours towards it as most do unto old age which haply we may never attain unto and if we do it will bring it self work enough for us to do Death comes swift and uncertain Sin the longer lived in doth the more harden Repentance is not in our call or command when we please it is a work of the whole man and of the whole life this work deferred will be greater the time to do it in will be shorter the strength to do it by will be less bodily infirmities will disinable spiritual actions God will have less honour and service from us and we our selves shall have more sorrow and less comfort For my own part I can speak something by woful experience of the sad effect of not imbracing the present opportunity and ability that God hath given me I am assured that I have lost much of my comfort here for hearkening to the motions of my own spirit and slighting the motions and strivings of the Lords Spirit by which means I have deprived my self of manifestations and apprehensions of heavenly and spiritual things that the Lord begun to pour out upon me And now if I would give all the world I cannot recall one day that is past nor one of those blessed opportunities that I have lost Only I desire if the Lord will to redeem this little inch of time yet remaining like an idle servant that hath loitered all the forenoon begins to work twice as hard in the afternoon I have two Requests within me to make unto thee whosoever thou art that readest these lines If there be in thee any consolation in Christ if any comfort of love if any fellowship of the Spirit if any bowels and mercy then my first Request is I do beseech thee beg thee in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ if thou mindest his glory or thy own good that thou wouldst seek the Kingdom of Heaven in obedience to his command in the first place for in so doing the Lord will be glorified thy light shining before men that they seeing thy obedience to him may glorifie thy Father which is in heaven that so while the whole World with Martha are troubled about many things thou mayst with Mary choose the better part That so while some are giving all diligence to get

glorieth glory in this that he understandeth and knoweth me that I am the Lord that exerciseth loving kindness judgment and righteousness in the earth for in these things I delight saith the Lord Ier. 9. 23 24. But I see the glory of most men both 〈…〉 ders and Followers to be in this 〈…〉 their dung mixtion is bigger and 〈…〉 then their neighbours Oh that 〈…〉 n should be such fools to glory 〈…〉 p of dung which doth not 〈…〉 nk but breed noysom Crea 〈…〉 Yet if a mans Dunghill be a 〈…〉 er then his neighbours he gets 〈…〉 op of it and stands with one 〈…〉 is arms on kimble and looks 〈…〉 if any of his poor neighbors 〈…〉 hath not scraped so much toge●●●● come to speak with him he must ●ome with his hat in his hand and his leg scraping and his head bowing or else he cannot finde acceptance with his rich neighbour I have observed these things not only in the Laity but also in the Clergy if one of the Ministers have gotten a fatter Benefice then the rest about him how fine will he go cloathed how daintily will he fare how big will he look And if any of his Brethren that hath not so much per annum as himself come to speak with him he must knock at the door and if admitted in he must stand in the Court and it may be have a Message brought him Sir the Doctor is in his Chamber or newly entred into his Study you must stay a while and why so why this Minister and many more here in the Countrey have but small Dunghils and are but as so many journey men they serve but at small Chappels of ease but the Doctor serves and is Curate of the mother Church the other Churches are but the daughters and must pay Tribute to the Mother So that all sorts all ranks and degrees of men young and old noble and ignoble professing people as well as profane Clergie as Laity are more or less laying up Treasures in the earth and accompt themselves more or less honourable not according to the measure of Grace they receive but according to the measure of wealth they have and yet these men would not be accounted worldly men And what shall I say to these things shall I say of you as in Gen 6. 5. And God saw the wickedness of man was great that every imagination of the thoughts of his hart was only evil continually c. Or else shall I speak to you as in 1 Joh 5. 19. The whole world lyeth in wickedness Or shall I not rather speak to you in the language of the Prophet Isaiah 56. 11. Yea they be greedy dogs which can never have enough and they be shepherds that cannot understand they all look to their own way every one for his gain from his quarter Isa 56. 11. Thus I see men be content to endure any labour and to hazard themselves to innumerable dangers and to suffer many and grievous miseries that they may be assured of earthly things and yet their strongest assurances be but uncertainties and the best things of the world assured but trifling vanities the Merchant is content to compass Sea and Land and to run many hard and hazardous Courses and all to get some Wealth which he is uncertain whether he shall obtain or if obtained whether he shall retain or enjoy it one day to his comfort Oh then why shall the choisest of our thoughts be so busied about earthly things so we let our hearts cleave to the earth and so the whole man filled with distracting cares It puts men upon great temptations 1 Tim. 6. 9. They that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare Again it is a dishonour to God and a scandal to Religion besides it hinders our preparation for death for we are thinking upon the world when we should be thinking on that Text Job 7. 6. My dayes are swifter then a Weavers shuttle See Luk. 21. 34. And so in the end the World will drown thee in destruction 1 Tim. 6. 9. It choaketh all the good we have either publike or private Mat. 13. 4. If all this be too little to set forth the sad condition of worldliness consider it is the root of Apostacie when Demas embraced the world he forsook God 2 Tim. 4. 10. If that be too little the Scripture calleth it Adulterie Jam. 4. 4. And if all this be yet too short consider another Scripture calleth it Idolattie Eph. 5. 5. Object 1. What should a man do or what means should I make use of that I might hang loose to the world Object 2. How far is it lawfull for a Christian to use the world To be diligent in our Calling is Gods Command and idleness is forbidden as sinfull 1. Of the first of these what means should I make use of to take off my heart and affections from these worldly things Answ When a man hath pitched his highest thoughts and dearest affections upon any thing which he esteems most highly he cannot dis-ingage his entire love unto that thing untill he be convinced of something that there is which is more excellent we cannot forsake a lesser untill we see a greater good If the world or any thing in the world be highest in our thoughts dearest in our affections and strongest in our Wills then our Wills will will that our affections will affect that and our thoughts will be upon that and there they cannot but center untill there is something discovered unto us to be more excellent Now if Christians so called had but the least knowledge of the glory of the Almighty how excellent he is in his Attributes as Wisdom Righteousness Truth and Faithfulness Mercy and Justice c. I say were but the back parts of the Almighty God unvailed and did we see him and though but at a distance we should presently see him to be the fountain of all excellency and the true object of all love so that all the excellence in all the whole Creation which we like fools had pitched our hearts upon is but as one drop of water to the whole Ocean sea to the beauty sweetness and glory of the Creator God blessed for ever Now this most glorious Being hath promised to manifest himself to us and the Scripture tells us it is life to know him it is heaven to behold him it is melody to hear him it is endless happiness to enjoy him to know him is to know all things for they had their beings from him and center in him if thou come but to know his name once see what followeth 1 Cant. 3. Because of the savour of thy good ointment thy name is as ointment poured forth therefore do the virgins love thee Mark therefore do they love thee for the excellency that is in thee O then taste and see how good the Lord is and when thou hast seen his beauty and tasted of his excellency we need not bid thee love

THE Weavers SHUTTLE DISPLAYED And the Swiftness thereof Unfolded Or the Words of a Dying man to a Dying People in the midst of a Dying Nation Wherein is held forth I. That the time is short the way is narrow the Prize is great the Runners are many the Obtainers are few II. That Repentance and turning to God is not in one Call or Command wherefore wait upon the means appointed by God to work it and that diligently and constantly this Work deferred will be still greater the Time to do it in wil be shorter the strength to do it by wil be less III. If we endeavour to the uttermost to improve the present opportunity and ability that the Almighty gives us we shall for ought I know live with more comfort here and die in full assurance hereafter for the greatest evil threatned or feared may through wisdom be timely prevented By Robert Purnel Job 14. 1. Man that is born of a Woman is of few days and full of trouble Psal 39. 5. Verily every man at his best estate is altogether vanity Job 7. 6. For his days are swifter then a Weavers Shuttle London Printed for Giles Calvert and are to be sold at his Shop at the black spred Eagle neer the West end of Pauls 1652. The Epistle to the Impartial READER Courteous Reader AS death is the King of Terrors to Christless Souls who have made the World their portion and Lyes their Refuge c. To Christians it is but a Servant sent from their Father to put them to Bed or sleep for a little time till Corruption put on Incorruption and Mortality Immortality to the first Death comes in full Power Force and Vertue to execute all the Plagues written so puts a period to all his good things But to the latter it puts a period to all his Troubles of what kinde or nature soever they are for Christ hath born all their griefs iniquities transgressions sorrows stripes and chastisements c. Fear not me saith death to a Saint I come from your Father who hath taken away my sting I am come to tell you that God and Christ doth love you and they love you so well that they can not suffer you any longer to be out of the full enjoyment of their love I have but one thing more in my Commission and that is only to crack the clay Walls which is the Prison that you may flie home and be at rest and this will be to the advantage both of thy body and soul thy body shall be healed of all its diseases of what nature or kind soever Death puts an end to all hunger and thirst cold or nakedness labour and weariness and then thy soul shall be taken up into the perfection of Gods eternal Love free Grace full Glory and everlasting Purity and so be for ever with the Lord in a word Death comes to put an end to a dying life which finisheth that work which begins so soon as we begin to live for the whole life is but a progress of death all the time we live we die invisibly and when we die indeed it is but a compleating of what we have been doing all our life long So that all the sons of men may say as once Iacob to Pharaoh Gen. 47. 9. Few and evil have the days of my life been few in comparison of his forefathers evil in the respect of his manifold crosses first in his Infancy secondly in Youth thirdly of Manhood fourthly of old Age each of those states accompanied with as many miseries as an hour is with minutes as doth appear by those words of Christ Mat. 6. 34. Sufficient to the day is the evil thereof c. And as for the things of this life when we have taken all the pains we can to rake and scrape them together it will be with us as with the children of Israel they that gathered little had no lack and those that gathered much had nothing over The Scripture tells us that the World was made of nothing Heb. 11. 3. and Iob telleth us it doth hang on nothing Iob 26. 7. Therefore to depend upon it is to depend on nothing Prov. 24. 5. VVilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not I have endeavoured in this Treatise to hold forth the frailty of man and the miseries that do accompany all men and women that do take up their rest in any thing beneath God I have exhorted all to improve the present opportunity and ability to the best advantage that all their good meanings and purposes might end in speedy performances in all which I do not say or mean that man should or could act without the Lords enabling him for we cannot get life by any action as it is mans without God for there is a flaming sword so that there is no coming to the Tree of Life but by Iesus Christ the new and living Way the true and only way We may assoon stand upon the Earth and touch the Sun in the Firmament as perform any Spiritual action without him or have any Acceptance either of our persons or performances but only in him Look upon whatsoever I have written as my thoughts or judgement who am a man knowing but little I must confess I rather lisp then speak plain in the things of God wherefore cover all my imperfections with a Mantle of Love this Piece is the only Work of a few redeemed hours compiled in the midst of many personal tryals if thou finde any imperfections yet let not the Truth of God suffer through my weakness but ascribe them to me even to me to whom of due they belong wherefore to the Law and to the Testimonies wherein I come short of speaking according to that Rule it is for want of light I am content to decrease so the glory of God may increase let my name perish so his may flourish let me cut off like a Weaver and die so his Name and Glory may live R. P. THE Weavers Shuttle Displayed And the Swiftness thereof Unfolded Job 7. 6. My days are swifter then a Weavers Shuttle THE Book of Job whereof this Text is a Part in general lays before us these things viz. 1. Gods Omnipotency 2. Mans uncharitableness 3. Jobs Patience and Thankfulness arising from his living in the will of God He giveth and takes away blessed be his name Job 1. 21. Now there were many things very eminent in Job 1. Uprightness of life in these words And Job was an upright and just man one that feared God and hated evil Job 1. 1. 2. Patience in Affl●ction Shall we receive good at the hands of God and not evil Job 2. 10. Job further holds forth viz. 3. The vanishing frailty of mans Nature 4. The envy of the Devil Job 1. 11. 5. The mercy of Almighty God in these words He maketh the wound and bindeth it up Job 5. 18. In the first of these to wit the Uprightness of his Life there are these

we commit we make a forfeit of our life Here is the sad condition of the sons of Adam O Adam what hast thou done For though it was thou that hast sinned yet thou art not faln alone but all we that come of thee as being then in thee and so infected by thee And we become guilty not only of original but also of actual transgression and so many of us have forfeited our lives ten thousand times over from which there is no redemption but by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and it is to be feared that not one of twenty do truly believe in him and make it their work to follow him hence it is that death finds us so unprepared we never considering that there is but a breath between us and Heaven or Hell Vse 4 If our dayes be so short and swift let us so accompt of it that when death comes and sweeps away some of our nearest Relations it may not be so tedious unto us as to cause us to mourn excessively because we saw their dayes to be short and swift before So that in stead of grieving that they be gone so soon we should give thanks to God that he did spare them to us so long and say with David I shall shortly go to them The consideration of these ensuing things will much abate our mourning and take off the edge of our excessive grief for Friends of any Relation that are deceased 1. Let us consider that whatsoever doth come to pass is by the soveraign will and pleasure of God 1 Sam. 3. 18. And Eli said it is the Lord let him do what seemeth him good In the foregoing verses the Lord had told Samuel that the iniquity of Eli's house should not be purged because his sons made themselves vile and he restrained them not Well saith Eli good is the word of the Lord let him do as seemeth him good as if he had said The Lord is infinitely wise and therefore knoweth better then I how to dispose of me and my family for his own glory and our everlasting good And although those Judgments be very heavy which he hath denounced against me and my family yet we have no just cause to complain for doubtless he will bring glory to his name and good to us by it according to his promises So said David 2 Sam. 15. 26. Behold here I am let him do to me as seemeth him good So again Psal 39. 9. I was silent and opened not my mouth because thou didst it So said Hezekiah Isa 39. 8. the Lord had told him by the Prophet Isaiah that all his goods should be carried to Babylon and his sons that did issue from him they though near dear to him should also be carried to Babylon Well saith he good is the word of the Lord. So our dear Saviour himself Mat. 26. 39. O my Father if it be possible let this cup pass from me Nevertheless not as I will but as thou wilt Psal 68. 20. He that is our God is the God of salvation and unto God the Lord belong the issues from death Job 30. 23. I know that thou wilt bring me to death and to the house appointed for all living and that speedily too for my dayes are swifter then the Weavers shuttle 2. Let us consider that we our selves and our friend or friends that now we grieve for I say we and they received our lives from God and must be accomptable to him for them again Eccl. 12. 7. Job 1 21. 1 Tim 6 7. 3. Consider All men have one entrance into the world and the like going out Death is certain and appointed to all the greatest Kings and Emperors under the Sun must taste of this cup nay the Lord Christ himself if he will be vailed in flesh must die And that it is certain and appointed to all will appear by these Scriptures Heb. 9. 27. Job 30. 23. Job 7. 1. Gen. 3. 19. Psal 90. 3. 4. Let us consider the fulness of the Lord Jesus Christ answering every relation and the many excellent promises that are suitable to our particular condition He is bread to the hungry water to the thirsty cloths to the naked eyes to the blind legs to the lame strength to the weak life to the dead he is peace in trouble joy in sorrow health in sickness riches in poverty he is a friend to the friendless a husband to the widow a father to the fatherless I had thought to have brought chapter and verse to have proved each of these to thee but I would have thee to search for them thy self that so thou mayst finde many more sweet Promises sutable to thy present state and condition for he is all thy tongue can ask thy heart can wish or thy minde conceive he is light in darkness and Heaven in Hell if thou canst but see thy Interest in him and Relation to him thou wilt be ready to say within thee in the midst of all thy troubles Let friends forsake me let enemies deride me let all worldly comforts leave me nay the plagues of Egypt the botches of Iob the enemies of David the imprisonment of Ioseph the poverty of Lazarus the bands of Paul cannot hurt me for the Lord is my portion his grace is sufficient for me wherefore I will even say with David Psal 18. 2. The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer my God my strength in whom I will trust my buckler and the horn of my salvation and my high tower c. 5. Consider though I have lost a neer and deer Husband or Wife Father or Mother Son or Daughter Brother or Sister Kinsman or Neighbour yet I cannot say as once Jeremy did Was ever sorrow like unto my sorrow but I can say There is nothing hath befallen me but what is common to man nay God hath dealt more favourably with me then he did with Job Job 1. 19. 20 21. for he lost all and he hath dealt more kindly with me then he did with his servant Eli 1 Sam. 4 17. For he lost at once his two Sons and the Ark of God which went nearest to his heart and at last his own life too 6. Let us consider that many of the Saints have desired death and if we love our friends departed shall we grieve that their desire is answered Read and well consider Phil. 1. 23. and Job 14. 14. 2 Cor. 5 1 2 3 4. Again in another Scripture we find these and the like words Now let thy servant depart in peace for mine eyes have seen thy salvation 1 Kin. 19. 4. Take away my life for I am no better then my fathers For such as die in the faith we should not mourn for as men without hope 1 Thes 4. 13. But I would not have you to be ignorant concerning them which are asleep that you sorrow not as others that have no hope ver 14. For if we believe that Iesus

will beget in us this unspeakable benefit namely To behold a hand of Providence in and read love under every dispensation You and I should say with Iob when we loose all blessed be the name of the Lord and with Paul Phil. 4. 11. I have learned in whatsoever state I am therewith to be contented and so we shall serve him without fear and not be afraid of Armies of men and Legions of Devils Psal 3. 6. He will not fear death and hell Why because he will see both overcome by Jesus Christ Death that was the King of terrours hath now lost his sting 1 Cor. 15. 56. and the Devil hath lost his power as to one that is in Christ for he is overcome by Christ Heb. 2. 14. Sin also the cause of death which did shut the door of Gods mercy and grace upon us is overcome for us by Christ upon whom it was laid Isa 53. 6. And so he made an end of transgression and sin The world also that did so often deceive us and perplex us is overcome for us by Jesus Christ Joh. 16. 33. The Law also which brought in many Bills of Indictment against us is fulfilled by Christ for us Rom. 10. 4. The Justice of the Almighty that did lie in the way of our peace and quiet untill it was satisfied is now taken away quite and appeased towards all true Believers by the Lord Iesus Christ Psal 85. 10 So that now come what will come all shall work together for the good of those that love God If prosperity come let us behold God smiling upon us and trying of us If imprisonment come let us with Paul and Silas sing Psalms if tribulation come let us rejoyce knowing that tribulation shall work patience and patience experience and experience hope and hope maketh not ashamed In a word if our wills were resigned up into his will we should be saying such words Good is the word of the Lord let him do what seemeth him good for nothing can separate me from the love of God in Christ Rom. 8. 38 39. Neither can any thing do me harm Rom. 8. 28. 7. This is the way to have our conversation in Heaven whilest we live on the earth Now what makes Heaven but Union and Communion with God in Iesus Christ now this being attainable in this life what hinders but a Christian may live in Heaven whilest he lives upon earth 1 Ioh. 1. 3. Truly our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Iesus Christ Phil. 3. 20. Our conversation is in heaven again I live yet not I but Christ liveth in me and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the Faith of the Son of God Gal. 2. 20. All these were men on earth subject to infirmities as we are and yet they lived in Heaven and these things are left written in the Scriptures for our learning to wind up our hearts to the like frame Let Religion be our business then and more time spent on that and less time on the world For as hath been said before the time is short the remainder of our season is now folding up as a Sail or Curtain into a narrow room time is short and life shorter and the end of all things is at hand Thus have I endeavoured as briefly as I could to lay before thee whosoever thou art that readest these lines viz. the shortness of mans life or fewness of his days and the many miseries that do befall him and how a Christian might if not escape them yet have them lessened and sweetned unto him so that he might walk through these Seas of troubles and winds and floods of afflictions and fiery trials by open secret buffettings from thy many enemies and sometimes from pretended friends and neer relations with comfort c. Was not Abel murthered by his brother Noah mocked by his sons Job and David scoffed by their wives was not Iacob threatened by his brother banished from his Father abused by his uncle in the day he was consumed with heat Gen. 31. 40. in the night with frost then there arose a division betweeen his two wives two sisters brawling for one husband after this they both run from their father now see a fresh pursuit behinde him Laban following him with an hue and cry before him Esau coming with four hundred men to go forward intolerable to go backward unavailable then a little after his wife Rachel dies his daughter Dinah is ravished his son Reuben lies with his Concubines then his son his Ioseph they report is lost and now see a man of sorrows indeed I will go down saith he to the grave unto my sons mourning after this a Famine begins and another of his sons in prison and nothing can redeem him but his only Benjamin here was loss of son after son Ioseph is not Simeon is not saith he and now ye take away Benjamin all these things are against me Thus every Christian more or less though he be a few days yet they are full of trouble and both flie away faster then the Weavers shuttle which if well considered will rouze up those many sleepy professors living in these crazy times and slippery days wherein both lives and liberties health friends wealth pleasures honours and priviledges are in such extremity of extraordinary uncertainties I say the serious consideration hereof might serve to rouze up all sorts of men to improve the present time to the best advantage that so they might have an unshaken foundation of true spiritual peace and consolation For we must al die and that speedily our days flie away swifter then the weavers Shuttle It is said that when the Egyptians found their first born dead in their Families there was a great cry throughout Egypt a great cry in every Family Now were we as sensible of our souls as we are of our bodies oh what a great cry would there be in most of our Families one crying out and saying O Lord I have a dead childe another O Lord I have a dead servant another O Lord I have a dead wife in my Family whose soul is dead another I have a dead husband a dead friend and if the Lord doth not raise them speedily I fear they will die the second death from whence there is no redemption for they shall be cast into everlasting fire which is an intolerable eternity our life is like a candle in a paper Lanthorn there 's but a breath between us heaven or hel Wherefore O earth earth earth hear the voice of the Lord even while it is called to day which is swifter then the weavers shuttle FINIS

him all the men and women in the world could not quench thy love to him thy love would be as strong as death many waters could not quench it and when once thou comest to love him purely for himself because he loved thee first then thou wilt cease loving the world knowing that if any man love the world the love of the Father is not in him and so while Martha is troubled about many things thou wilt with Mary choose the better part and as once he was satisfied and contented with the world without God so now he endeavors to be contented with God without the world The world was once thy portion now the Lord is thy portion Psal 16. 5. and Psal 119. 57. Lam. 3. 24. The loss of the things of this world did once trouble thee now thou canst suffer the spoiling of thy goods joyfully Heb. 10. 34. The glory and excellency of all things under the Sun are not so precious as the light of his countenance if all the world smile upon me and my Father seem to frown or hide his face I shall be troubled but if all things frown on me and He but a little smile I shall rejoyce with joy unspeakable and full of glory Let friends forsake me let enemies deride me let all worldly comforts leave me if thou hide not thy face O Father it is enough I shall say with Paul I have learned in whatsoever state I am in to be content therewith Phil. 4. 11. I was once earthly in spiritual things I am now Spiritual in earthly things saith the sanctified Soul I did once hate the Saints I do now love them And I know that I have passed from death to life because I love the brethren 1 Epist Joh. 3. 14. I did lately delight in the company of sinners now all my delight is in the Saints that excell in vertue and the more spiritual any Christian is the more entirely do I love him saith the enlightened soul I did lately envy that man that did outstrip me in getting goods I could heartily wish how that all the Saints would double and trebble their diligence in getting this heavenly treasure I did esteem my self better then others I endeavour now to esteem others better then my self according to that 2 Phil. 3. And so much for answer to the first Objection or Quaere Object 2. How far is it lawfull for a Christian to use the world because to be diligent in ones Calling is Gods Command and idleness is forbidden as sinfull Ans Under correction and with submission to better judgements I humbly conceive that we having made it our great business to improve our Talent or Talents in working out the manifesta●ion of our salvation and having given all diligence to make our Calling and Election sure in waiting for the appearances of the love of God the Father through his son Iesus Christ by the Holy Spirit in the use of all the Ordinances and appointments of Christ having I say in the first place made this the main of our business not so much that we might be saved by him but rather that hereby we might appear more capable to answer that great end for which he gave us a being namely that his name might be glorified by Jesus Christ in us In the next place we are look to our bodies and in order thereto to betake our selves to labour that so we might in a sense get our livings by the sweat of our brows this made Paul labour working with his hands night and day that he might eat his own bread and not be chargeable to others and so make his glorying void And the same Almighty that bids us hear read meditate and pray bids us also to be diligent in our Callings and provide for our selves and Families or else we come short of Infidels And again Let him that hath stolne steal no more but work with his hands that he may have for himself and something over for him that needeth This is so known a thing that no man unless those that have renounced their reason and made nonsence the mother of their Devotion will deny it wherefore it will be needless to write any more for the probation of it only a word or two how far it is lawful for a Christian to be diligent in it For I suppose that a Christian may honour or dishonour the Almighty in the lawfull use or sinfull abuse thereof as well in his particular Calling as in his general Calling First then follow thy particular Calling and be diligent therein purely in obedience to the Command of God that so if thou wert to have no profit by it yet thou wouldst follow it because he commands it 2. Be diligent therein that so thy self and Family may eat your own bread pray and work for daily bread 3. Be diligent in your particular Calling that so you may be helpfull to others 4. Be sure that in following this earthly Calling thou do it with an Heavenly minde in every part of it I had thoughts to have been large in every one these because there be few that have learned this Lesson but I have a perswasion even now darted in upon my spirit to write but a little more of each 1. Then let us follow our particular Calling and be diligent therein purely in obedience to the Almighty that so if we were but to have our labour for our pains yet we would labour because the Lord Commands us Exod. 20. 9. Six days shalt thou labour c. See again Deut. 5. 13. and 2 Thes 3. 11. 1 Thes 4. 11. And to work with our own hands as we commanded you 2. Be diligent in your Callings that so your selves and families may eat your own bread Though not in the first yet in the second place thou mayst have respect to the recompence of reward 2 Thes 3. 11 12. For we hear that there be some that walk among you disorderly working not at all ver 12. Now them that be such we command that with quietness they work and eat their own bread and if they will not work let them not eat 2 Thes 3. 10. c. I have often considered what should be the cause that many men and women in some sense are in a worse condition then the beasts of the earth or the fowls of the ayr for most times they have plenty of food and to spare and man which is Lord of these things is often in want so that many steal for want and I have at last found that their poverty doth arise from these or the like things 1. Either from Covetousness There is that withholdeth more then is meet and it tendeth to poverty Prov. 11. 24. 2. Or else from wastefulness or excess in eating or drinking Prov. 23. 21. 3. Or from the oppression of the rich Jam. 5. 4. 4. Or else from idleness and slothfulness in their Callings Prov. 20. 4. The sluggard will not sowe because of the cold therefore he