Andrâ—wâ— in Norwâ—â—â— HOâ—â—â— 13. 14. O death I will â—â— thy plagues O grave I will be thy destraction THis Chapter easily divideth it self into three parts 1. A grievous Reprehension to v. 10. 2. A sad Comination from the 10. to the 14. verse 3. A seasonable Consolation from the beginning of the verse where my Text is coâ—châ— to the end of the Chapter My Text begins the last part of the Chapter The sense of which is ambiguously controverted by Expositors Some will have it to be a promise meerly relating to the deliverance of the Jews out of Captivity in which sense some concâ—ive the same phrase almost taken Isai 25. 8. But it is plain from the Apostles Commentary 2 Cor. 15. 55. that it is not to be restrained to that sense The Hebrews opinion is altogether for it But Christian Interpreters gâ—ided by the Apostle generally render it a prediction of the deliverance of the Elect from Sin Death and Hell by the Lord Jesus Christ Some Controversie there is yet amongst them about the direct sense some amongst which is Calvin and Oecolampadius will have it to be a spiritual promise but conditional as if the sensâ— were this If they had repented and turned unto me I had delivered them even from the gates of Death But Jerom with others make it an absolute promise of a Redemption from from Sin and Death by Christ and will make the words to be the speech of Christ promising Redemption to his Elect. Joyn both together and the sense is perfectly this Christ doth here promise Redemption to his Elect under the type of the deliverance of the Children of Israel ouâ— of Babylon The deliverance of the Children of Israel out of Babylon was â—ypical That 's promised here viz. That after a certain time he would redeem them out of the power of the Babylonish Captivity where they should lye as buried for a while But the Antitype was the Elect of God â—o whom Christ promiseth a Redemption from Death and the Grave I I the Lord Jesus Christ Jehovah the second Person in the Trinity Will Ransom Redeem It signifies to deliver out of some bondage by vertue of a price paid by another for his friend I will pay the debt due to my Fathers Justice and Wrath and buy them out of their natural slavery Them The Elect in a spiritual sense the Jews in a plain sense as the words are a promise of a deliverance out of the Babylonish Captivity From the hand of the Grave that is the power of the Gravâ— To be in ones hand is to be in their power therefore our Translation readeth it power Of the Grave The Baâ—ylonish Grave if you look upon the promise as meerly respecting them 1. Sin 2. Death and 3. Hell are all here understood So the Apostle applies it 1. Cor. 15. Thus Christ hath fulfilled it for his Saints I will redeem thâ—m from death It is but a repetition of whâ—t was promised before The word is doubled for it is certain O death Christ speaks O death Spiritual Temporal Eternal I will be thy plagues O grave I will be thy destruction I Jesus Christ will be by my coming and dying and rising again will be in time 't is yet but a little while but I will come and tread upon thy neck thy plagues Jerom and Ambrose read â—t 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 thy contention I will engage in the quarrel betwixt thee and my elected ones Death had a quarrel against all the children of Adam by vertue of that original word In the day that thou â—atest thereof thou shalt surely dye Others read it Plagues or Destruction The difference ariseth from the neâ—rness of kin that is betwixt the Heb. words signifying Contention and the Hebrâ—w word signifying Plagues The Greeks read it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Victory I will be thy Coâ—â—ueror Others read it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Punishment just Punishment c. I will be thy â—inâ— with Justice O grave I will be thy destruction Thy sting thy cutting off Here Christ saith I will be The Apostle triumpheth as of the thing done 2 Cor. 15. 55. O death where 's thy sting c. Christ having then dyed conquered death risen and ascâ—nded You have now the sense If you look on the whole Verse you have in it these three parts 1. A redemption promised in which you may note 1. The Redeemâ—â— I Christ. 2. The Act I will redeem 3. The Redeemed Them 4. The time I will 5. The slavery Death the Grave 2. The manner of this redemption 1. By himself I being â—â—aths â—uine 2. With a price paid I will redeem 3. The confirmation of it Repeâ—â—â—ance shall be hiâ— from miâ—â— eyes I cannot change or eat my words I have said it and it shall be done My Text contains the second part where you have Christ threatning death to be its plagues and the grave to be its destruction The Doctrine is shortly this Doct. Christ for his Believers is become deaths plague and the graves destruction There is no change in the Doctrine from the very words of the Text only what Christ here spake in the future tense I will I have put in the preterperfect tense as the Apostle Christ prophesied his coming by Hosea we preach the prophesie fulfilled Two things would here for Explication be enquired into 1. What death Christ is a plague to 2. How Christ became the plague of death and the destruction of the grave to his people The distinction of death is ordinarily known 1. Spiritual which is the souls death in sin We were all of us dead in sins 2. Temporal which is the separation of the soul from the body 3. The third is Eternal The death of body and soul for ever The first consists in the separation of the soul from God The second in the separation of the body from the soul The third in the separation of both body and soul from the presence of God for ever If it be askt concerning which of these Christ speaks and to which of these Christ is a plague and destruction I shortly answer to all First he is a plague to the Spiritual Death a destruction to that grave Ephes 2. 1 5. You hath be quickened who were dead in trespasses and sins By reason of Adams fall all the elect became dead in sins and children of wrath by nature as well as others Christ coming quickens the dead soul with his enlivening Grace Ezek. 16. 6. I said unto thee while thou wert in thy blood live yea I said unto thee while thou wert in thy blood live O death Spiritual Death he hath been he is he will dayly be thy plague Secondly He is a plague to Temporal Death Indeed it is the last enemy that shall be put under the Conquerors feet before he resigneth up the Kingdom to his Father First He is a plague to it for he hath delivered us out of the power of it he hath made the door
stand meerly by the latch When Adam had his mittimus made to the Gaol of the Grave Death turns the lock bolts up the door when he had gotten him but once in his custody never intending to part with the prisoner more Christ seeing the Gaoler so confident in his Tyranny Well saith he let him be good of his office for I will ransom them froÌ„ tho power of the grave I will make Death know he is but to keep his prisoner till further order Indeed this was decretally done before the beginning of the world by Christs Word given to his Father and Christ ever and anon in the time of the Jews let his elected ones know there was an evasion out of the grave by the resurrection of several persons but the time of Christs actual and full becoming the plague of death and the destruction of the grave was when he dyed and rose and led captivity captive Thus Christ is the plague of Death and the destruction of the grave for all men and women in the world but to his Elect only for good there is an escape-way out of the deepest grave already and at the last day there shall be an actual freedom Secondly He is to Beleevers the plague of this Death and the destruction of this Grave by taking away the cause of fear of this death out of all their hearts they can stand upon the top of the grave and sing O Death where is thy stiâ—g O Hell where is thy victory The Elect â—ad it noâ— been for Christ for â—eaâ— of death had all their life time been subjeâ—t to bondage Heb. 2. 15. â—â—rasmuch therefore as the children were partakers of flesh and blood he also took part with them v. 1â— that â—e might dâ—liver them The Saints of God can stand over the grave and say Surely the bitterness of death is past though they cannot say the time oâ— death is past 3dly Christ to his Elect is the plague of Death temporal â—n that he hath taken away the final evil of it and hath made that which would have been theiâ— maâ—â—eâ— for â—â—ine and evil to be their desire and servant for good Death thought to have been goâ—ler of the bodies of Gods Saints till the day of judgment and then Hell should have had them delivered up God says No their bodies shall be in thy custody but thou shalt deliver them up refined to Glory to Eternal Rest to be with me for ever So that now it is the voyce of Gods child I desire to be dissolved and to be with Christ And in this we groan earnestly being burthened not for that we would be unclothed but clothed upon that mortality may be swallowed up of life Death is ease now to the Saints of God the hard stones are but pillows of doun The grave from a place of terror is turned into a retiring house from the busie sweating world O death Christ is thy plague O grave â—e is thy destruction Thirdly Christ is the plague and destruction of Eternal Death they shall never taste of that Beleevers are past from death to life He that is the Amen that was dead and is alive yea alive for ever more he hath the keyes of Hell and Death Rev. 1. 18. Christ is the Angel that came down from heaven Râ—v 20. 1. that hath the key of the bottomless pit and he that hath a part in the first resurrection on him the second death hath no power Rev. 2. 11. Overcoming Saints shall not be hurt by the second death Now this is our victory that overcometh the world even our faith Beleevers are Conquerors in and through Christ and Christ hath conquered hell for them for the lake which burns with fire and brimstone is the second death Rev. 21. 8. Christ now hath saved them from this this hath no power over them O death he is thy plague O grave he is thy destruction Thus I have opened the first and shewed you what Death what Grave Christ is a plague to Now let me shew you in the next place How Christ is the plague of death the grave of destruction To this I shall answer in three or four particulars briefly 1. By his enlivening Spirit 2. By his dying Love 3. By his rising Power 4. By his ascending and reigning Glory First By his enlivening power Thus he is the plague of spiritual death he comes and sees the soul that he hath chosen dead in â—respasses and sins it neither speaks nor hears nor sees nor moves spiritually it is more cold then the frozen earth Christ breathes into it the breath of life The Son quickeneth whom Joh 5 21. Iohn 6. 63 he will Christ doth it meritoriously The Spirit doth it instrumentally Joh. 6. 63. It is the Spirit that quickeneth He maketh the dead soul to begin to hear the voyce of the Son of God and live to begin to relish heavenly things and savor things which are above to stand upon its legs and walk a little in the ways of godliness Secondly By his dying Love Christs death was that which destroyed death He was the first of those that rose from the dead by power from himself to live for ever Christ dying shewed the grave his power Christs dying was the plague of death 1. In his own example He brake through the bolâ—ed door of the Grave though the stone was rolled and sealed He was he that was dead and is alive yea that lives for evermore O Death he was thy plague in himself he was â— Pâ—t 3 18 dead and is alive thy lock could not keep him 2. In the merit of it Christs death in the merit of it was the plague of death and the destruction of the grave The sting of death is sin saith the Apostle Christ dying satisfiâ—d his Fathâ—rs Wrath and Justice So that though death lives for a while yet he lives without a sting it can do no member of Christ hurt and it shall not live long neither for though it be the last enâ—my that shall be destroyed yet it shall dye too 1 Cor. 15. 26. Christs death was the graves destruction it destroyed sins life which is the spiritual death for Christ having dyed sin is dead too Rom. 6. 6. Our old man is cruciâ—ied wiâ—â— him that the body of sin might from henceforth be dâ—stroyed that henceâ—orth we should not serve sin Vers 9 10. In thâ—â— he dyed he dyed once unto sin Vers 11. Likewise râ—ckon you your selves to be dead indeed unto sin By Christs dâ—ath temporal death is destroyed in the power of it for he himself led captivity captive In the fear or it Fâ—rasmuch as â—â—e children were partakers of flesh and blood â—e also himself took part with them that through death â—e â—ight destroy him that had the power of dâ—â—th â—ven the devil And deliver them that through fear of death were all their life time subject to bondage Heb. 2. 13 14. In the bitterness of it for now we know
that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. O death Christ dying hath been thy death And so for eternal death for he hath by his death satisfied so satisfied his Fathers Wrath that now the second death shall have no power over us â—ly Christ is the plague of death by his rising power The power of Christs Resurrection is great upon death Therefore the Apostle tells us Rom. 6. 4. That like as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of his Father even so also Col. 3. 1. we should walk in newness of life being first planted into the likeness of his death then of his resurrection Vers 5. Christ rising in himself was the plague of temporal death Dying he was a servant to it Rising he became the Conquâ—ror over it Being the first fruits of them that sleep in the grave 1 Corinth 15. 20. And rising he became the plague of death for his people His Resurrection was but a type and a prophesie that those that that sleep in the dust shall have a morning to awake in this the Apostle fully proves in the former part of his 15. Chap. of the first Epistle to the Corinthians it is a pillar upon which all the Saints of God ought to build their faith in the Article of the resurrection of the body And from that premise an undenyable argument may be brought to confirm ouâ— Faith in the resurrection of the body as the Apostle disputes there yea and his resurrection was the plague of eternal death for by his resurrection the love declared in his death bâ—came victorious and his death mâ—â—â—orious it would have aâ—gued that the dâ—bt had not been payd to infinite Jusâ—ice if the prisoner had not been seâ—â—t liberty by the resurrection of his body Now who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods elect It is God that justifieth Who is he that condemneth It is Christ that dyâ—d yea rather that risen is again Rom. 8. 34. But the freeing of the prisoâ—er argues the ransom is payd and Justice satisfied Fourthly Christ by his aâ—câ—nding and living in Glory is become the plague of death Spiritual death is thus destroyed as soon as it begins to â—reep upon the Saints of God Christ sitteth at the right hand of God to make intercession for them Rom. 8. 34. And now we know that if we sin we have an Advocate with the Father even Christ the Righteous 1 Joh. 2. 1. Thus Temporal death was destroyed for it appeared by this That he did not come out of the grave with deaths leave upon condition to return a prisoner again Rev. 1. 18. He lives that was dead and is alive for evermore He rose no Eph. 4. 8. more to go down to the prison again thus Eternal Death is destroyed too For In that we know our Redeemer lives we know we shall see him with these eyes and live with him in Glory Therefore the Psalmist putteth them together He hath ascended up on high and led Captivity all kind of Captivity Captive In that he is ascended to his Father and our Father our God and his God We know Ioh. 20. 17 Ioh. 14. 3. he is not amissus but praemissus not lost but gone before to prepare a place for us and that he will one day come again and receive us to himself that where he is there we may be also Lastly He will yet be the plague and destruction of death and the grave by his freeing and acquitting power at the great day when he shall come to judg the quick and dead when he shall come in his Glory and shall sound the Trumpet to a Resurrection Gather my Saints together those that have made a Covenant with 1 Cor. 15. 16 me by Sacrifice Then shall there not the least smell of the death of sin remain about the bodies or souls of his Servants then the prison of the grave shall fly open and be shut no more for ever all the bars and locks of the grave shall fly off and death it self shall be destroyed and all bodies have a liberavit then shall the Robes of Righteousness be put on the souls and bodies of his Saints and the Crown of Glory shall be put upon their heads even the Crown of Everlasting Life then shall all the redeemed ones of the Lord be actually declared before all the world to be free for ever not only from the first but the second death and the Saints that have been buried in Christs Death and quickened by his Resurrection shall for ever live with him in Glory and sing for ever O death where 's thy sting O hell where 's thy victory Thus Christ is the plague of Death and the destruction of the Grave I have done with the Doctrinal part and am come to Application First It shall serve for Instruction secondly for Consolation and lastly for Exhortation First For Instruction It may instruct us how wonderfully beholden every Saint of God is to the Lord Jesus Christ. 1. Do but consider what he hath done for thee He hath delivered thee Is that all No he hath redeemed thee it argues a price paid for thee to deliver thee from sin the grave and hell Weâ—t not thou all mired with sin under the power and command of sin a slave to thy base lusts and corruptions dead in trespasses and sins Who hath quickened thee Who hath said to thee in thy blood live Was it not hâ— that hath here said O death I will be thy death Who shall deliver me from this body of death saith the Apostle O wâ—etched man that I am c. Rom. 7. 24 25 I thank God through Jesus Christ oâ—â— Lord. O death he is thy death 2. Thou art redeemed from the power of the grave and from the bitterness of it Who hath done this Was it not he again that took flesh and became partaker with us of it that through death he might destroy him that had the power of it and deliver them that all their life time through fear were subject to bondage 3. Who hath saved thee from the second death from hell and eternal torments but thy Saviour who hath put this song into thy mouth O hell where 's thy victory Bâ—t consider again how Jesus Christ hath done this by his own dying Christ dyed in the flesh that thou mayst not dye in thy sins himself tasted the bitterness of the cup that he might leave it sweet to all his children Is not thy heart won with his love Christian Dost thou see him encounter thy three great enemies the first the second the third death for so I may call them Dost thou see him dying in the fight and conquering by his dying pains O my Soul thou art drawn with strong cords of love run after him Secondly From hence we may learn of what use and comfort every Act of Christ is and may be to believers His death his rising his ascension
nothing of what he did was too little nor any thing too much there could have wanted nothing and there was nothing redundant if he had not dyed he had not merited deliverance from Spiritual Death if he had not risen he had not conquered Natural Death if he had not ascended he had not led all Captivity Captive Let every action of Christ comfort thee who did all that he did for thee Thirdly From hence we may be instructed why so many are afraid of death Temporal Death I mean The cause may be double either a want of Christ or a want of Faith 1. Wicked vilâ— wretches they are afraid to dye Oh that that cup might ever pass from them they know not how to think of that day and parting hour and truly no great marvel death with its sting in it will fear the stoutest man in the world For a poor wretch to be ready to dye and cry out Now goes out my poor soul to answer for all my oaths and blasphemies for all my Sabbath breaking and profaness now must I take my leave of all comforts friends wife children all adieu for ever If death be not kil'd it self it kills the heart of the stoutest the poor wretch cannot see that Christ hath redeemed him from the power of the grave 2. Gods own dear children may fear death through a want of faith not applying with such a confidence as they ought the merits and vertue of Christs death to their souls Those now that the Lord hath given a perswasion to that they have an Interest in Jesus Christ those dye without fear they know their Redeemer lives and this was the happiness of this precious Saint of God that he hath now taken from us She had comforted her self against the fear of Death that she could say O death where 's thy sting Therefore in a book she had composed and written for her own use to Her book â—s annexed to this Sermon comfort her against the fear of Death She makes it her work to prove her interest in Christ and did it by several marks which made her dye without giving death an ill word or countenance death came but he had lost his sting Christ had been its plague A second Use may be of Consolation to comfort the children of God against the fear of death Lift up your heads O ye righteous be glad ye upright in heart All your enemies are trodden under foot fear not sin death nor hell Death hath lost its sting Hell hath lost its victory 1. Fear not spiritual death Sin shall no longer have dominion over your mortal bodies for Christ hath died to free you from the guilt of it and to deliver you from the power of it It may live it shall not reign it may fight against it shall not conquer you 2. Fear not temporal death Consider the Wasp hath lost its sting What hurt can it do thy soul It is not thy ruine Christian It is thy perfection Luke 13 32. I do cures saith Christ to day and to morrow and the third day I shall be perfected Thou art not perfected here Christian there is a crown of glory that the Father will set on thy hâ—ad with the black hand of death Who fears the Serpent that hath lost its teeth the Bee that hath lost its sting O death Christ hath been thy death Though thou mightst be afraid to take up death when it was a Serpent yet see its turned into a rod. What is thy life Christian is it not full of frowns are not all thy days almost tears and sorrow Doth not the wicked world look a squint upon the Saints of God is not suffering an hereditary disease that runs in the blood of Mighty Jesus that every Saint is born to inherit the Cross and through Golgotha to take his way to glory what should wed thee to the world Christian not thy desire of life and sure it cannot be thy fear of death Death hath nothing formidable in it Say to it Christ is dead O death where is thy sting then Much less can they fear eternal death for they are passed from death to life and the second death hath no power over them I have but a word more and that is of Exhortation First To all to get an interest in Jesus Christ Thus prepare your selves for the day of dissolution It is a statute in the Records of Heaven That all men should once die and afterwards come to judgment Death is a bitter cup to those that know nothing to sweeten it Learn here to get a part in the Lord Jesus Christ a title to him an interest in him He hath taken out the sting of death he hath been its plagâ—e but not for all see therefore for thy interest in him Hic labor hoc opus est Christians here is your work you spend else your time for nothing and your labor for that which will not profit Work out your salvation give all diligence to make your calling and election sure This is your land-work Saints and while it is done you will never be prepared to go to Sea to set sail for eternity he will never be satisfied with time and days that hath not some grounds to hope for eternity O that you would labor to make this work your work You spend your days in labor and sorrow and when you die you will lie down in sorrow Believe it you that spend your strength for that which will not profit you will see the day when your souls will be troubled for the hours lost in dressing vanity in the following the lusts of the eye and of the flesh O make this your work to get a portion in Christ and believe him who though he knows but little knows that you will finde it a difficult work a work that will be enough for the time and for the strength you have to spend If you have Christ you are well if not you die a slave to death and will be a gally-slave to Satan in Hell for ever O that you would be wise and consider your latter end before you come down wonderfully This was the work and constant work of this precious Siâ—â—er of ours whom God hath now taken from the evil to come It was her practice to hasten over the business of her family as a thing to be done yet not her great work and then to apply her self to the great work of making her calling and election sure In which her pains were as unweariable as others are in vanity That she hath lest behinde her several Books written which are as the Câ—ronicle and Annuals of her life collecting those promises on which her soul rested framing the objections of her own spirit and seeking out satisfaction from Gods Word If in any thing she doubted she â—nquired at the lips of them that should preserve knowledg and pens down their answers observes Gods ways with her self and her own frame towards him and from all gathers up a posie of such evidences of saving Grace as she could finde in her soul to comfort her in her latter hour And if any asks what profited this labor I could onely have wished that such persons had been as I was a witness to her dying happiness to have seen with what a peace of Spirit what a fulness of assurance what hope what joy she entertained her last affliction the messenger of death There they should have seen this promise made good the grave destroyed the Saint delivered hell troden under foot death desired conquered despised this song sung O death where is thy fling O hell where is thy victory Be exhorted O ye that have a portion in Christ be exhorted to tred under foot your conquered enemy What is there in death that is terrible or bitter to those that have a portion in the Lord Jesus Christ Why are you afraid to be made perfect there is no taste of hell in the cup. The prison doors shall not be lockt the bolts are broken off the bitterness of death is past O desire to be dissolved and to be with Christ Love the winding-sheet that wrapt up your Saviour the stones and gravel of the grave have nothing in them that is hard or harsh Christ hath been the plague of death and the destruction of the grave I heard a voyce from henceforth saying Blessed are they that die in the Lord yea saith the Spirit for they rest from their labors Lastly From this Text may those that mourn for the dead in the Lord be comforted Hast thou lost a believing friend Weep not for her weep for thy self Not that she is gone but that thou art here Death hath our friend in his hands but not in his power It is Christ that hath said I will redeâ—m you from the power of the grave Is not Christ dead is not he risen again and ascended hath he not led captivity captive why mournest thou then for a Saints freedom is there any thing of bitterness in the cup that thy and her Father hath given her to drink Triumph because she triumpheth rejoyce because all tears are now wiped from her eyes shew a faith in Christs death Resurrection Ascension conquest over Sin Death and Hell The work of Righteousness is peace and the â—ffect of her Righteousness quietness peace and assurance for ever FINIS
COMFORTS Against the fear of DEATH Being some short Meditations composed by that precious Gentle woman Mrs. Anne Skelton late of Norwich Wherein are several Evidences of the work of Grace in her own Soul which were the Stay of her Heart against the fear of Death From which may be discerned the â—â—able of a true Christian spirit To which is added some short Notes of a Sermon preached at the Burial of that choyce Servant of God in St. Andrews in Norwich By JOHN COLLINGS M. A. and one of the most unworthy Embastadors of Jesus Christ for the preaching of the Gospel in the said City Phil. 1. 21. For to me to live is Christ and to dye is gain Ver. 23. For I am in a strait betwixt two having a 〈◊〉 to depart and to be with Christ which is far 〈◊〉 London Printed by I. M. for Nathaniel Brooks and are to be sold at his shop at the Angel in Corhnil 1649. TO My truly honored Friend WILLIAM SKELTON Gent. Increase of Happiness and Comfort SIR IT is my happiness that I can be acquainted a little in her writings with her with whom God was pleased to give me so short a time of acquaintance in this life Sir though I could not deny my worthless labors as my last piece of service to her yet had it not been to tempt out this little piece into the world I should have denyed this Sermon any further publication then the Pulpit in which it was preached I need not excuse it to you Sir who know enough what impar opus humeris constantly lies upon my shoulders that I had neither time to compose it not yet since to enlarge or refine it but have sent you my own Notes totidem verbis as the first day written I shall beg Sir That her Notes may be prefixed to the Sermon I shall be a little covered under so sweet a shadow and the Readere expectation will be satisfied before his eye reacheth my Sermon But Sir without a Complement which is but the folly of excuse the Sermon holds out something of Christ his name is precious Reading Rhetorick c. are but the poverty of the Creatures endeavors In her writing you will be a Spectator to a pitcht battel sought betwixt her Soul and Death My Sermon will present you with the Conqueror singing Triumph we sight but Christ conquers nay to speak truth he both fights and conquers too After I had seen her upon her death-bed so fully triumphing over the King of Terrors I could not but at her Funeral rejoyce concerning Death with crying O Death where 's thy sting O Hell where 's thy victory It hath often pleased my secret thoughts to remember her over-looking Death when the pangs of Death had taken hold of her Ah Sir how sweet is it to have an assurance of Christs love What a nobleness of spirit is there in the true Christian that can call Death and Hell cowards It is no marvel to see a profane beastly wretch whose conscience the Lord hath feared to damnation dying quietly but to see a knowing Christian of an awakened conscience to dye triumphingly and make an holy-day of leaving all Creature-conteâ—â—nents O this is the mighty Conquest of the Soul through the great work of him that hath led Captivity captive Sir methinks it should comfort you to think how willing she was to part with you though before more dear then her own life to her It argued no want of love to desire Christs company more then yours Alas Sir you never dyed upon the Cross for her Let it refresh you Sir to think how much you were beholden to the Bridegroom of Glory that he would trust you with his Bride so long a time The enjoyment of such a Saint thirty years Sir is a great piece of Heaven Is she gone No Sir only restored Where she is she is in good keeping and as well-beloved as she loves You have resigned her Sir And it was but Justice that the Lord Jesus should have his Wife when he sent such a messenger for her as would not be denyed Ah! Sir let us follow she is gone before It should seem her Mansion was ready before ours or which is most probable her Soul was fitter for it then ours She was first drest and therefore is first gone to take her walk in the Paradise of God Sir let us blush and get ready how long shall her glory antidate ours But it will be some comfort to think that though she hath got the start in Heaven before us yet she will be walking there till we come It is a rare walk that wearres not the feet of he Redeemed ones Here we wall upon stones there we shall have a gardes-walk and legs that cannot be weary â—ut yet let us make haste there 's odds betwixt Earth and Heaven what ever our enjoyments here be This Sermon â—â— rather her own prefixed Meditations may mind you of her Sir who now is before the Throne and is satisfied with the likeness of him who is the brightness of his Father's glory I beseech you Sir as it minds you of her so let it quicken you after her So shall God have the glory your Soul the comfort and he the answer of his prayers who is Sir Your most unworthy Servant in the work of the Lord Jesus JOHN COLLINGS From my study in Châ—plyfield house in Norwich August 26 1648. TO THE CHRISTIAN AND Ingenious Reader Especially such as fear Death for want of assurance of Christs Love Christian Reader I Here present thee with a copy after which I would have thee to write some few Meditations of that precious Saint of God Mistriss Anne Skelton I need not speak for her as those parents said of their child so I shall say of her She is of age let her speak for her self Of age she is for she hath taken up her inheritanes in Glory what her life was let her books speak It was not her course to triffle away her time by sleeping or dressing as the most of her quality use to do God had given her another Spirit viz. to strive to go as fast to Heaven as most gallants do to go before each other in â—all I was acquainted with but a few of her last days but it was easie to discern by the honey the laboriousness of the Bee Her reported practise was to have made Heaven her â—say and the necessary things of this world her 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 if her time allotted for worldly affairs would allow her any minutes for God she would improve them of they would do her no good she was resolved they should do her no hurt by committing sacriledg upon her religious hours if her Kitchin would lend no time to her Closet yet she would be sure it should steal not a minute from it For her worldly imployments as she was consciencious in her relations so she was refreshed when she could wash the pitch from her fingers and
have liberty to go sit with her God Her Closet work was no chambering and wantoness but a serious study to make heâ—â—â—â—lling and election sure To this end she reads with understanding observing and carefully transcribing the promises she had gathered up her Bonds and knew how much God was in his Word an accomptant to her Soul and was never in want but she had a Bond to put in sute knowing that he was faithful that had promised She was a consciencious attender upon God in his Ordinances and it was her practise not to hear as one that looks his natural face in a glass that presently goeth away and forgetteth what manner of man he was She would observe mater al passages and upon her retirements record them with her pen if in any thing â—â— doubted she ceased not till she was satisfied And whereas it is the too blame-worthy practise of Christians to seek cavils against themselves striving by their cavillings to unsettle their spirits she rather stadyed to make it her work to find what interest God had in her Soul then what she might have to say against her self nor in this was her labour without fruit Thou shalt read here what a writing she had drawn for Heaven to make it sure to her Soul and 〈…〉 had striven so the Lord had crowned her Souls endeavours with such an assurance as failed not her Soul in her dying hour It was my happiness to be a witness to the latter end of her life It pleased God to continue her holy day to the last hour in such a measure that Death had not an ill look from her There mightst thou haue seen Christian what a conquest Christ had made over Death and Hell Death had in her truly lost his sting and Hell was cheated of its victory Captivity was led Captive I shall commend to thee this little piece penned with her own hand by which thou mayst disâ—â—â—â— with what an excellency of Graces as well as Gifts the Lord had crowned her I commend it to thee not to be read only but that as by a true touchâ—â—one thou mayst try thy own Soul by it and find whether thou beest ready to dye or no. Thou shalt find this choice Servant of God dealing truly with her own heart neither presumptuously flattering nor unwarrantablâ— dejecting her own Spirit For what of â—â—ine is added I beseech thee take the goodwill that he that offers it bears to thy Soul I acknowledg there is nothing of a Schollar in it if there be the more of Christ let God have the Glory thy Soul the benefit and the Author thy prayers who is Thy true Servant in the work of the Lord Jesus John Collings From my study Aug. 27 1648. Infallable Signes OF Saving Grace Each one an Evidence for Heaven each Evidence an Antidote against the Fear of Death Death being to the Soul endowed with Grace only Heavens Gate to enter in by or through it to Eternal Glory and Happiness IT is a â—rrevokable decree of Heaven that all men must once dye yea it is the Law of the God of Nature and must be obeyed no avoiding it The Scripture faith it is appointed to all men once to dye Therefore oh my Soul seeing there is no escapâ—â—â— Death thy only way is to prepare for in get the sting of it taken away so shall it not hurt thee nor be terrible to thee no cause then to fear Death for it shall be but a messenger sent from God thy Father to fetch thee home to him and free thee from all sins which is thy greatest burden and all sorrows and miseries that sin occasioneth and carry thee to Heaven to Happiness and Glory to thy Saviour and Redeemer the Lord Jesus Christ to raign with him for ever in Heaven Now the only way to make Death thus to thee is to clear up thy evidences for Heaven Wherefore on my Soul get thee more Interest in Christ make that more sure to thy self that Christ is thine and thou art his and then no cause at all for thee to fear death As it is certain that Death will come even to thee as well as to others so is it most uncertain the time when it shall come Therefore my Soul defer it not for it stands thee as much upon as thy life may as thy eternal well being for evermore to make that sure to thy self even now while it is called to day and that upon good grounds that thou hast a sure title to Heaven art an heir of it and hast an Interest in Christ then it shall be well with thee after Death that shall be a happy change for thee no cause then to fear it Therefore oh my Soul why art thou so cast down And why art thou so disquieted within me And why fearest thou Death so much Hast thou not some Evidences of Truth of Saving Grace to prove thou art in Christ Darest thou deny it Thou canst not Oh therefore now clear them up view them well again meditate on them seriously bless God for them and let them support and comfort thee against the fear of Death at all times in all extremities or distresles whatsoever may befall thee Consider seriously with thy self hath not God promised to support thee in and deliver thee out of all afflictions and distresses in the best time and mean while that all shall work for thy good Therefore trust thou in him for he never fails any that trust in him rest thou on his promise and he will make it good to thee The first ground work of Grace in thee â—s this God hath given thee the sight of thy self thy sinful wretched and miserable yea damnable condition by nature thy sins both many and great as well thy inâ—â—nd corruption of which David complains Psalm 51. 5. As also thy continued actual transgressions all thy life along which are the fruits of that bitter root either outward or inward to wit thy natural aversness to all good pronness to evil perversness of heart rebelliousness of will disorder of affections and distemper of thy whole Soul in every part not as a meer natural disturbance only but as a spiritual disease a wicked and wretched disposition evil in it self of it self displeasing to God and deserving his curse and damnation of thy Soul and body although it should never break forth into any actual excess And now my Soul hath not God also in some measure humbled thee and broken thy heart too for thy sins Are they not a burden too heavy for thee to bear Wert thou not once in thirte own apprehension in a most desperate condition ready to sink under the load of them Therefore oh my Soul â—o Christ calleth thee to come to him and promiseth he will ease thee Mat. 11. 28. There is a promise for thy faith to rest on apply it to thy self to support thee Dost thou not confess thâ—â— to God bewailing 〈◊〉 with great grief and sorrow of heart