a religious respect We may illustrate the point by these following considerations only first observe that we are not delivered from the necessity of dying naturally no Heb. 9.27 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that statute must stand that all must be subject to the necessity of dying believers and unbelievers nor are any delivered from subjection to sickness and diseases nor scarce any from pains at the hour of death nor from seperation of soul and body but all Simeons deaths be comfortable in these respects 1. The sting of sin is death a poysonfull sting but Jesus Christ on his Cross did take away this sting of death he disenabled death to hurt his redeemed ones nay our Lord did insult over death Hosea 13.14 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 saying by his Prophet I wil redeem them from death O death I will be thy plagues O O grave I will be thy destruction and by his Apostle O death where is thy sting c. insomuch as death is now made the Saints friend 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 who before through fear of death were all their life subject unto bondage 2. As our Lord hath delivered us from the sting and fear Heb. 2.15 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 so also from the curse of death by which our death had been a dreadfull inlet and passage to the second death nay he hath delivered us from the curse of sickness pain and mortality c. like that meal cast into the pot of bitter pottage 2 King 4. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 when the sons of the Prophets cryed out Death in the pot Death in the pot Rom. 8. so doth Jesus Christ heal and sanctifie our very trouble and afflictions that they shall do us more good and work together for the best to us viz. to bring down the tympany pricke the bladder of pride to crucifie or quench our lusts to cool our rash anger and raging passion to unmask our hypocrisie and generally to beat down the body of our corruptions and to help us to put off the old man more and more which as the Apostle and Saints do more lay to heart so they do more earnestly groan to be cloathed upon with our house which is from heaven 2 Cor. 5.2 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 3. By death the Saints be delivered from the dominion of death which was very high and imperious and did extend to the souls as well as the bodies of men Now the satisfaction of Christ which he made to divine justice and the redundancy of his merits dayly presented to his Father have prevailed to cut deaths dominion short and to loose the bands of death from off us as easily as Sampson did loose the green cords wherewith he had been bound But why then be the Saints of God punished at all with a temporall death Ob. Death is not properly a punishment An. nor inflicted by the Lord in wrath First for that in the forgiveness of sin wrath is quite taken away and God blots out their transgressions for his name sake Secondly death is turned into a blessing by the hand-worke of Jesus Christ opening a new and living way unto that rest which remaineth to the people of God Heb. 4.9 Ps 116.15 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 pretiosa 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quasi bono habilis Thirdly pretious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his Saints Death is compared to a common gate in a city castle or garison at which the prisoner enters as the way unto his dungeon but the friends honour'd ones albeit they come in at the same gate do obteine princely and noble entertainment so death is common to all godly and ungodly to the one it is a door of entrance into life to the other a door of entrance into eternall death Q. Why do any truly godly ones fear deaths since it is so friendly to them A. Because some of God's pretious ones have through abundance of naturall fear many and strong misgivings of heart yet do much expostulate with themselves about it saying Why art thou cast down Oh my soul Psa 42.5.11 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Why are thou so disquieted within me trust still in God c. Some of Gods dearest servants have very strong apprehensions of death and the circumstances there-about and but low and weak apprehensions of Jesus Christ and so their eyes be too much fixed on their outward things which they leave behind them and two little on their Father into whose hands they should commend themselves and all that they call theirs and too little on Jesus Christ at the right hand of God for them and lastly too little on those masions of glory which the Lord Jesus hath prepared for them to each of whom our Lord may say as to Peter why art thou fearfull Mat. 14.31 O thou of little faith Come give me thy hand come rely depend and believe more strongly and thou shalt not fear to tread on the sinking waters of death Little faith breeds great feares May not a wicked man desire to die Q. 2 Yes but not as a wicked man A. but as a discontent and so the godly and wicked may both have desires to die For the godly Elias a gratious servant of God sick of great impatience sits him down under a juniper tree 1 Kings 19.4 and saith it 's enough Oh Lord take away my life for I am no better then my Fathers So good Jeremiah curseth his birth-day Jer. 20.14 and repents him that ever he lived or had been preserved to be then alive 2. A wicked man also though not as such anone but in some desperate condition may be willing to die as wicked Saul 1. Sa. 31.4 ashamed to live and astonished to think of his reproach spake to one 2 Sa. 17.23 and another to kill him So Ahitophell wearie of his life went home set his house not his soul in order Mat. 27.35 and hanged himself So Judas his horrible guilt forced him out of his wicked life So some notorious malefactours have laid violent hands in prisons and else where on themselves rather then live longer to be made examples and monuments of publique shame But these wretches be acted much by Satan himself or by his instruments as when Job's wife comes to her husband with Job 2. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Benedictiones Dia holi sunt maledictiones curse God and die What ever Job's wife was otherwise I 'le not insist but sure I am now she was an instrument of Satan Where by the way observe That Satan is restless to bring the deare Servants of God to think and speak evill of him in their extremities Satan will perswade us to ease our selves mitigate our grievances by evill meanes saying sin and die curse God and die Observe he sometimes suggests that it is not sinful to seek or wish ones owne death He would
language bearding the Ministers and saying thou lyest thou limb of Antichrist thou son of the whore of Babylon thou deceiver of the people and thou persecutor of us thou sayest the Scriptures be the Word of God which we deny thou sayest men have originall corruption after grace which wee deny thou saist we are not perfect but we are thou saist our spirit is not infallible from the light within us but that infalliability we do and shall still maintain Now my beloved Reader farr be it from any well principled soul to bee moved or shaken with any such imposters 1 Tim. 6.10 1 Tim. 1.19 to err from the faith or to hearken to such Apostates who are reprobate concerning the faith Oh let none be bewitched with such a generation of men so diabollically enchaunted but let 's from time to time have recourse unto our ground-work laid out before us in the Word and let 's call to mind what was our judgment before these errors and blasphemies did so daringly stare us in the face again let us well consider what was the judgment of the ancients viz. of solid sincere Christians and orthodox Martyrs who dyed in and for the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ according to the exhortation of the blessed Apostle 2. Tim. 1.13 holding fast the form of sound words in faith and love Where the Apostle would have these two things 1. That our judgments and understandings be clear and evidentiall giving faith and credit unto the divine authority of those grounds of truth which are founded upon the holy Scriptures bearing witness to them 2. That our love unto the truth of Christ be entire for those who are not thus soundly grounded in their understandings and judgments do lye open to Jesuitick frauds and may be easily deceived by them who lye in wait to that purpose Eph. 4 14. Act. 20.30 of whom we have some sprung up among our selvs and those likewise who receive not the truth in the love of it 2 Thes 2.10 nor in love to Christ as the holy and pure the powerfull Rom 1.16 and wonder-working Word of God to save souls such I say may easily fall away albeit they may be full of other learning and have attained excellent parts for such have been highly esteemed much praised of men and much used in the Church of God Thus much of the second branch viz. to be well principled in matters of religion 3. An holy and solemn meditation of and conference with death in in every Simeon Quest Consider what death is to such Answ It is a degree of happiness yea an inlet to full happiness before when none could be said to bee happy but when a Christian shall meditate that death is an haven after much fowl weather Acts 2.26 Psal 16. Rev. 14.13 Mat. 25.34 1 Pet. 5.4 Rev. 2.10 Rev. 21.4 a bed of rest after sore labour a taking possession of our glorious inheritance nay of inthroning with a Crown of Glory and the putting an end to all groans complaints and sins the dismissing of a blessed soul out of a loathsome prison and when he shall meditate that death is but the putting off of old rotten ragged cloaths our day of Jubilee with many more heads of sweet meditation how will he who would prepare to dye wel be fitting himself with deepest considerations what course hee must take to dye happily These meditations carry gold in their wings and are strong Rhetoricians to perswade a poor dying creature Act. 8.37 Rom. 10.10 Gal. 2.20 o believe in the Lord Jesus with all his heart to live in the faith and to live by the faith of the Lord Jesus who hath loved him and given himself for him 2 Tim. 4.7 1 Tim. 1.19 Isa 38.3 to keep faith and a good conscience towards God and men and to walk before God in truth as Hezekiah did with a perfect heart these divine meditations bee of excellent use to open and set before uâ— all the sweet covenant-mercies assured to the godly in death to unclaspe the book of all the consolations and divine promises and to fill the soul with a wonderfull longing and desire upon desire after those sweet enjoyments 2 Tim. 4.8 which be laid up for the Saints at the happy dissolution of soul and body Come on then immortall soul and by holy meditation now and then walk with death half an hour and say Oh death I must come into thy quarters and territories shortly But Oh the atheisme the pride of heart and infidelity which like a dung-heap wreaks up abominable stink at the perceiving of which my heart doth tremble and I am horribly afraid Oh that I could spend the remainder of my days in weeping and ringing of my hands and in tearing off the hair of my head but yet what will that avail mee but Oh death mind me rather yea O Father of mercies possess my soul of true repentance and with an humble prostration of my self at the foot-stool of thy mercy-seat restlessly crying mercy mercy Oh death minde mee how inexorable thou art and that I may bee truly humbled and that the great God of heaven will not be dallied withall Gal. 6.7 at the hour of death Oh death what is the matter that thou art so terrible No may death say I am terrible only unto hypocrites and unbelievers Rom. 6.23 Lu 12.46 Rev. 21.8 1 Cor. 15.55 to wicked and unprepared souls others do and may take comfort in my approaches to them well knowing that I have no sting in my hand no victory or conquest over them but am a friendly harbinger to receive them unto a blessed peace who dye in the Lord after when they shal sin no more nor shall need to repent Rev. 14.13 nor weep nor fear death any more Rev. 7.17 nay death may tell thee shee is thy approved friend and that shee will be the death and burial of all thy foes corruptions â—fflictions of all thy cares thy fears thy tears adversaries will put a finall end to all thy conflicts and encounters Thus in thy meditation of death remember that to be young and flourishing is no priviledge against death nor to be beautiful nor to be rich nor to be strong nor to be learned nor to be beloved of Kings and Princes nay remember that no time no place no presence no power no business is any security against death yet alas the most dye sooner then they did expect and before they were well provided and in thy mediâ—ation of death and conversing with it whatsover be thy outward comforts and glory as honours lands goodly houses men and maid-servants attending friends or companions making merry with thee as Belshazzars Princes yet when death comes like the sun-set Dan. 5.1 all must and will extinguish and depart though relations sadly weep and howle never so loudly about us when they see us speechless and throatling cold-sweating and strugling for life
and father doth ordinarily fit his children for death in their sickness presenting to them the unloveliness and vanity of all things below the blessed interest which the Saints do enjoy in their Christ the happy change which they do make who dye in the armes of their Jesus and that such shall for ever be quit of all sinfull society yea of sinfull flesh no longer to abide among dead men nor among the tombs of dead ones shall never have cause to hang up their harpes upon Babylons Willows tree Ps 137.2 never be interrupted in singing our Hebrew song and therefore doth our gracious Father in sickness and otherwise open the narrow hearts and deaf ears of Simeons souls and then speak to them saying come my pretious ones suffer me now to dispose of you let me new mould you and transfigure you for your disease and so dear heart I do First make thee weary of thy body of death weary of the worlds blandishments and painted glory and weary of thy sinfull selfe Secondly I do sanctifie every pain and grief every crosse and trouble and make them become sanctified mercies Ps 131.2 whiles I do wean thee to be lesse in love with things below nay I cause that every decay of thy naturall strength every dimnesse of thy eye every dulnesse of thy ear every weakness and sicknesse of thy natural body shall tend to such a blessed change that at last the soul and body are made willing to depart for a time to attain unto Phil. 1.22 and enjoy a glorified cure Thirdly I do not only prepare thee to this submission but I do also make thee desire and long to dye I do so spiritualize and order thy soul that sicknesse shall be as welcome to thee as health death as life to thee who livest upon God in God and to God Dost want health of body I do satisfie thee with health of soul art near to death be it so then thou art nearer to life even a glorious blessed and eternall life sick man I am thy Lord God and I do assure thee by thy interest in my self through my son I am better to thee then ten healths as Elkanah was to Hannah then ten sons 1 Sam. 1.8 I am better to thee then many lives thy life here was but a breath or rivullet of life but in thy death thou art admitted to live for ever in him Joh. 14.6 Ps 36.9 who is life it self and to thee the fountain of life Fourthly in sickness the Lord speaks to his holy ones to be of good chear from the deep meditation of the love of God shed abroad in their hearts by the holy Ghost Rom. 5.5 Joh. 1.16 from the fulness al◠sufficiency of Jesus Christ their dearest friend their Lord King who coms leaping skipping over the mountains to solace himself in and with them whom he had so wonderfully delivered from the dens of Lyons Cant. 2.8 Cant. 4.8 and mountains of Leopards or what else hath been formidable to them Come look on me and to me lean and rely on me pour out thy soul into my bosome Isa 45.22 Mic. 7.7 who will assuredly give her sweet repose untill the great day of my second coming Cant. 8.5 Act. 7.59 when thou shalt be received soul and body to be for ever in mansions of eternall glory Cant. 3.11 to keep a most triumphant Jubilee with the Lord for ever Mal. 3.17 Act. 3.19 3. In death wee must submit to our Lord Joh. 14.2 3 and that in two things In the approach Act. 7.54 c. and point of death Precious soul in the approach of death Heb. 11. 2 Chron. 6.42 Ps 25.6 Ps 119.49 Psa 22.8 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Heb. 7.25 act faith in the Lord Jesus as Stephen did and as those Martyrs did faith will plead thy covenant-interest and perswade to roll thy self upon the free grace of God so fully represented in the promises faith bids thee look on thy Lord and saviour interceding thy cause at heavens throne Set hope on work to take faster anchor-hold on Jesus Christ Psal 18.2 Deut 32.4.31 2 Sam. 22.47 Ps 62.2.7 Ps 89.26 Ps 39.13 the rock of thy salvation Set prayer on work and pour out thy soul saying O Lord spare a little till I may recollect my self and bee sweetly composed to rejoyce in the approach of my my change Lord give me to welcome death with all ready entertainment as Gods messenger to deliver me from my prison Ps 142.7 Job 4.19 and house of clay wherein my celestiall soul the espouse of Christ is confined and imprisoned and say O Christ I come Luke 16.22 Lord Jesus send some of thy blessed Angels to receive carry my soul into Abrahams bosom as one of the fathers doth personate a dying Saint O holy trinity Father Son and Holy Ghost which in unity of nature art one the self-same God into thy hands I do commend my spirit into thy hands O blessed Saviour my King my priest and my Prophet do I recommend my self unto thee sweet Jesus do I a dying servant of thine come who camest into the world to save sinners of whom I am chief unto thee blessed Lord who wast conceived and born of the virgin Mary sufferedst diedst was buried and laid under the power of death Acts 1.24 for me to alleviate my death and make it stinglesse and curs-lesse who wast raised up from the dead didst miraculously ascend art now set down at thy fathers right hand for me to come again at the end of the world to be judge of all men Angels even to be my judg to justifie absolve me before all the world and to invest me a poor and miserable creature with that very glory which thy humane nature hath now in heaven and which thy self hadst with the Father before the world was into thy hands gracious redeener into thy hands O eternall spirit do I recommend my self who dost even ravish my heart by applying and sealing all the Covenant-goodnesse and gracious promises of life and of salvation even to me even now about to breath out my last breath of life Thus dying soul in thy submission un-thy Lord God set faith hope and prayer on work Quest The learned have a question whether the Saints in death do fear death having cōmission in some cases of persecution in one City to flye unto another and Christ saying Mar. 10. go not into the way of the Gentiles and into the Cities of the Samaritans enter ye not Act 9.25 and Saint Paul escaped out at a window at the fear of death and Christ himself often shunned the Scribes and Pharisees and Rulers who sought to kill him Joh. 7.1 1 King 19.3 so did David shun Saul and Elias the wicked instruments of wicked Ahab and Jezebell Answ To all which I answer that 't is not simply unlawfull to
my soul is yet alive alive to God in Jesus Christ and with old Simeon you are daily singing forth this Cantionem Cygneam Lord now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace for mine eyes have seen thy salvation Lo the budding of Simeon's Almond tree one bud is Simeon is a volunteer to death not dragged thither by fatall necessity nor his soul thrust out of doors with a violent hand but willing now or when-ever his Master shall please So good Old Abraham dyes in a good old age full of years and full of grace scarce an empty corner in his soul both instances had enough of days and years therefore did breathe and pant after eternity And now celestiall soul hearken a while and you shall hear the Spirit of Christ sweetly whispering Arise my love my dove my fair one and come away why tarriest thou To whom the redeemed doth joyfully answer Be it so O blessed Saviour I do only tarry thy leisure I come Lord I come but in thy time and according to thy Word not before mean while Lord help me to act faith in thy rich promises and in a blessed reliance of most holy recumbency to sit at the footstool of thy great mercy admiring the honour thou do'st to all thy holy ones and magnifying thy grace to thy Saints differing onely in degrees from glory for grace is glory militant and glory is grace triumphant And to conclude Honourable SIR Holiness in heart and life is greater honour then to be born the son of a King for the holy ones of the Lord have as it were the blood Royall of heaven running in every vein and the remembrance of every such one after death is as a pretious ointment powred out or as the smell of the Wine of Lebanon bear up then souldier of Christ against all discouragements in your journial towards heavenly Canaan what if you do meet with temptations and trialls nay with fiery Serpents in the way follow your Captain Christ Jesus who for the joy and crown set before him did endure the Crosse and despise the shame and is now set down at the right hand of the most high Wonder not O warrier of Christ if bullets of temptations and fire balls of hellish terrours threaten to destroy your faith which if they hit they cannot hurt you Jesus Christ in whom we are more then conquerours takes all the blows and gives you most insultantly to triumph over them and to read down ally our spirituall adversaries and to be gainers by them all in the day of your blessed change when you shall bee clothed upon with the same glory which Christ himself had from the Father by speciall donation and the very day of your death you shall be with Christ in Paradise as a Bride welcomed by the Bridegroom when your honour shall for ever sit with the King of Saints in heavenly places congratulated by innumerable Angells and by the generall Assembly and Church of the first born enrolled in heaven by the spirits of just men made perfect and with whom your blessed self shall make one saying Hallelujah salvation and honour and glory and power unto the Lord our God Amen Hallelujah Yours FINIS Books lately printed for Tho. Parkhurst c. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Divine characters in two parts acutely distinguishing the more secret and undiscerned differences between 1. The Hypocrite in his best dress of seeming virtue and formal duties And the true Christian in his real graces and sincere obedience As also between 2. The blackest weeds of daily infirmities of the truly godly eclipsing saving grace and the reigning sins of the Unregenerate that pretend unto that godliness they never had By that late burning and shining Lamp Mr Samuel Crook B. D. late Pastor of Wrington in Somerset Folio Mr. John Cotton his practical Exposition on the first Epistle to John second Edition corrected and inlarged in Folio A Theatre of flying Insects wherein especially the manner of right ordering the Bee is excellently described with discourses H storical and Physical concerning them with a second part of Meditations and Observations Theological and Moral in 3 Centuries upon the same subject by Samuel Purchas M. A. in 40. Catechizing God's Ordinance in sundry Sermons by Mr. Zachary Crofton Minister of Buttolphs Aldgate London the second Edition corrected and augmented A Religious Treatise UPON Symeon's Song OR Instructions advertising how to Live Holily and Die Happily LUKE 2.29 30. 29 Lord now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace according to thy word 30. For mine eyes have seen thy salvation SIMEON here may be stiled God's white Swan Eccl. 12.5 singing his owne Epitaph now in the time when his Almond-tree did sweetly blossom It is Simeons Funeral Song Cantus F◠nebris of which Songs I onely finde two in Scripture so sadly do the most lay down this Earthly Tabernacle when as the dear Saints of God should then rejoyce with joy unspeakable 1 Pet. 1.8 and full of Glory You read of one in the Old Testament and that was good Old Moses 120. Deu. 31.19 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 30 Duter 32. through out yeares old who calleth his instructions before his death giving to the people a song which he requireth to be written for the use of the Children of Israel when the Lord should put a period to his days on earth The second was Simeons Song here whose days were protracted till he should see the Lord 's Christ bodily Galatians and spiritually at once Both great men and honourable as say the Ecclesiasticall Histories both Holy and Godly men Moses was God's Servant and so was Simeon Both honoured with a Religious and Blessed memoriall Moses dies with fixed eyes upon true Canaan but Simeons eyes are fixed upon Christ The Spirit of God knowes as well the time of our Spirituall joyes as of our effectuall calling and the actings of our repentance and of our Faith See here this good old man is now excited to take the opportunity to act his own joy to personate that which believers should act much more then they doe namely to look believingly on the Lord Jesus their joy and consolation as Simeon did Who First took him up in his armes whom he had before entertained in his heart and so is even raptured in the superabounding love of his Lord Christ the blessedest arme-full that ever the good Old man had in all his life Observe that Simeon declares his joy by a Holy Elegie off blessing God for this so magnificent and long expected a mercy as this sight did contein That he looks of all else and will needs die out of hand to be forever in the possession of this beatificall Vision Observe the forme of the holy Elogy verses 29 30 31 32. called Simeons Song as if he had said I fear not sin nor dread I death I have lived enough I have my Life I have seen enough I have my light I have sorrowed enough
the Lord opened Heaven which made him say I saw the Visions of God The great Jehova Deodate in his Annotations did after a speciall manner Illuminate his understanding facultie and did reveal to him such divine and ravishing secrets as did far surpasse any human capacity with which some pretious Jewels of the Lords have been so spiritually transported that they have sweetly breathed out their celestiall souls into the armes or bosome of their Lord Christ their salvation as Simeon did desire here to doe One wel observed of late that there is nothing which hath so great an influence upon a holy man or woman nothing doth so much affect their hearts as a clearer discovery of the visions of God as when Job said I have heard of thee by the hearing of the eare but now mine eye seeth thee Job 42. And saith St. Augustin who is said to be 12. years old when our saviour suffered Euse Eccle. Hist lib. 3. Exo. 34.6 oft wished to have seen Christ in the flesh as Ignatius that blessed Martyr did 1. Ther 's a sight of God in his divine attributes and so he proclaimes himself in the hearing of all the peopl The Lord the Lord God mercifull and gratious long-suffering and abundant in goodness and truth c. Aquin. 2. There is a sight of God in his eminencie excellent greatness so appeared he to Moses out of the midst of a burning Bush and to Abraham Jsaak and Jacob by his Name Jah that deminutive of the Word Jehovah Exo. 3.2 Psa 68.4 or God Almighty and All-sufficient 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 So by his name I am ver 14. This is my name saith he forever and this is my memoriall unto all generations ero qui ero Thus the Israelites saw him in his excellent greatness which he did so display before them 3. There is a sight of God's surpassing purity and holiness of his nature and so the Angels and soules of the Saints departed and now in Heaven do see him Isa 6.3 and so the Seraphims who cried one to another Holy holy holy is the Lord of hosts the whole earth is full of his glory 4. Ther 's a sight of the plenarie blessedness and fulnesse of God Gen. 17.1 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 filling all things of which God himself told Abraham saying I am the Almighty God walk before Mee and bee thou perfect 5. Ther 's a sight of Gods dominion and Soverainty Isa 6.5.6 at some glimpses of which said the Prophet Isaiah Wo is me for I am undone for mine eyes have seen the King the Lord of hosts c. 6. There 's a sight of God in his providences who doth so dispose of Ep. 1.11 Mat. 6.26.27 Rev. 4 11. and order all things according to the counsell of his own will that he doth whatsoever pleaseth him both in heaven and earth he provides maintenance and subsistence for the host of all his works vegetative sensitive or rationall whether animate or inanimate Mat. 10.30 For the Lillies of the field for the Foules of Heaven the very haires of our head are numbred Ps 74.17 Job 36 27. Job 37.10 He orders the day and the night Summer and winter Heat and cold and he maketh small drops of water By the breathing of God frost is given and the breadth of the waters is straitned 7. There is a sight of God in the face of Christ viz. a reconciled God and Father in Jesus Christ and which more fully to make known this God and Father 2. Cor. 4 6. hath commanded the light to shine out of darknesse to give the light of the knowlege of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ So that as the great body of the sunn gives light to the worlds hemisphere Mal. 4.2 so does God in Christ by the son of righteousness sending forth the blessed beames of Evangelicall grace and glory shine upon the Church Gloria Dei hic est perlucida refulgens Oecolamp in Eze. 43.2 and give saving light into darke sovles and doth blessedly break in upon blind men and women who before sate in mufled darknesse and in the shaddow of death Reader heed these things well for they carry light life and power in them 8. And lastly vosti haec fidei contemplatio tranfigurativa appellatur Theod. epus Cyâ—i de fide in Epiph. there is a sight of God in the person of Christ and that is when we do apprehend a Godhead filling the humane nature with most unutterable apprehensions of God his Divinity and when by the powers of rich grace we do come to apprehend our selves so farr interessed in the two natures of the second person for ever made one Christ as to conceive and believe our selves to be the chosen cum Deus sese suaque câ—gnoscibilia largius perfectius patefacit suis Mercer in Job 4.5 and beloved of God in Christ before the world was and by the mighty work of free grace do begin to finde our selves accepted beloved redeemed and saved by our Lord thus set before us whom blessed Simeon looks here on corporally and spiritually as his own Christ as his salvation by meanes of the most Holy and happy continuance thus many Prohets and Kings have desired to see Luk. 10.24 of all the three Persons in the Trinity whereat Simeons heart became wonderfully enlarged It being given in to him from above according to the promise of the Holy Ghost that he should not see death before he had seen the Lords Christ Iunius in Isaiam Simeons sight here was not only ocular and intuitive but but intellectuall and fiduciall being Divinely revealed to him as the visions of Daniel Ezekiell and John for his sight was a manifold vision Epist ad smyrn Policarp of the Lords Christ in person in his natures in his offices so that Simeon was as it were transfigured Isa 22.1 Epo verò post râ—surrectionem in carne cum vidi ubi ignatius habet locum tempur personas quicum petro erant ipsa verba Christi as Peter James and John and carried into the vallie of visions to whom God pleased also to Communicate a vision of rapturing loves as to the Church in the Canticles and as unto blessed Jgnatius but after his resurrection when he appeared unto Peter and those who were with Peter his words be and I also after his resurrection saw him Simeon was communing with the promise Promisit sâ— deus compariturum in nube Levit. 16.2 Nubes fuit symbolum inhabitantis dei miserentis ac eos servantis quuÌ„ templo Salomonis sancto sanctorum primùm importaretur arca digressis commodùm sacerdotibus ex adytis nubes replevit domum domini nec sacerdotes subsistere poterant ut administrarent prae nube illa quandoquideme rat repleta gloria domini domus domini 1. Regum 8. verùm
all blessed Simeons do see their salvation future as present so doth faith prevent time and is the evidence of things not seen and the substance of things hoped for Heb. 11.1 Luk. 19.9 This day is salvation come to thy house as when Christ called Zacheus from the tree salvation is actually begun then in a believing soul who is said to have his conversation in heaven Phil. 3.20 while he is below Whence he looked for a Saviour the Lord Jesus Christ 1 Cor. 15.18 And when death comes believers do not dye but sleep nothing of them dyes but their sins their imperfections and afflictions yea the very being of sin is done away as when the house is pulled into pieces all the ivy roots in the wall are destroyed Reason 3 Death opens a door to believers to be received into Christs armes into the bosome of glory Our loosing from the body is to be joyned to Christ 2 Cor. 5.8 and that is very sweet here is a mysticall union to Christ but no glorious presence no that 's the crowning mercy which is kept till after death Now judge you here you are a prison there enlarged here you are absent from your head your husband your Lord and King eternal but by death the soul is put into the hands of the blessed Angells and by them is presented to Jesus Christ to be for ever with the Lord in glory This Simeon foresaw and therefore said Lord now lettest c. Which dvides itself into these Reason 4 three heads 1. The conflict between soul and body in death 2. The necessity of death in regard to soul and body 3. The blessed advantage which soul and body finde in death 1. Great is the conflict oft times the spirit may be willing when the flesh is unwilling which two twins do a great while stand at loath to depart Jacob was not by Ge. 45.26 and by willing to leave his Countrie and the Land of Promise to goe to his Joseph Israel not by and by willing to go out of Egypt Exo. 5.21 though it were to terminate a long and tedious captivity in Egypt Exo. 12.40 Phil. 1.23 of 430 yeares Pauls Cupio dissolvi did not by and by break forth till the weight of sin carnal conflicts the buffettings of Satan and manifold persecutions did load and weary his pretious soul together with a tedious mortality but then this gratious servant of the Lord became willing to put off his body of sin and death together and with Simeon to say Lord now lettest c The same hand which doth take down our earthly Tabernacle doth build for us a surer and eternall habitation made without hands in the Heavens at which change 2 Cor. 5.1 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Eccl. 12.7 the soul is taken to God that gave it till the last day when soul and body shal be made capable of those higher enjoyments which Jesus Christ hath dearly purchased and prepared for them a tast whereof our Lord was pleased to give unto Peter Mat. 17.2 James and John in the transfiguration and unto St. Paul when he was raptured into the third heaven 2 Cor. 12 2 both which some have thought to be more comprehensive then this vision of old Simeon here and yet all the dear Servants of God do in some aspect see Christ before they die and amidst some fears and misgiving thoughts do abundantly long to see him more 2. the necessity of death in regard to soul and body No mortall wants any thing so much as immortality and wants do necessiate men to desires stormes drives many goodly shipps into harbours war doth force the stoutest men to holdes and forts so the soul and body of the Lord 's gratious ones much pinched with the sence of their wants of glory to come and of their beatificall fruitions promised them be necessitated with blessed Simeon to desire to die that they may passe over troublesome Jordan to enjoy the promised blessings of celestiall Canaan where soul and body shall be refreshed enriched Ps 24. and eternally glorified with Jesus Christ their everlasting King of glory which thing our Saviour doth sweetly breath out by St. John Joh. 17.24 in that prayer of his Father I will that those whom thou hast given me be with me where I am that they may behold my glory q. d. that they may behold my transforming glory 1 Cor. 13.12 Can the glory of grace that comes by Christ represented to us as in a glasse so transforme a soul as Simeons in the text hath the glory here by mediums such a power then what will it be when we shall behold it without meanes Something Simeon did reach after in his holy wish which he could not comprehend here below though he had his Lord Christ in his armes but he will rejoyce in God his faviour he will believe Job 14.14 and hope well he will expect and wait with holy Job till his change come when he knew his joy shall transcend the joy of harvest or that of men dividing the spoile 1 Pet. 1.8 it being a joy so unspeakable and full of glory See then 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that death is necessary to prepare the soul and body for immortality of which more in the third branch of this fourth reason as followeth 3. The blessed advantage which soul body find in death after death Phil. 1.12 presently the soul begins to be in it's prime for whilest she was in the corruptible body she was ruled by corrupt sence and violently carried by loose appetite driven and compelled against it's own gratious desires to give way in some part to a body of sin for she can hardly look out at the eys but looks upon a baited hooke nor hear by the eare but there is the serpents voice nor the tong taste but there is some gall in that honey nor the hand touch but there is a defilement nor the foot tread but there 's a net and every sense a member of the body ready to be a Judas to the soule to betray her with a kiss Now what wise Simeon will not be willing to depart to exchange a dungeon for a pallace 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 copper for gold base beggery for high honour a short lease of base heath of barren and craggy rocks Gen. 3.23 1 Pet. 1.4 for the garden of Eden a paradice nay for an inheritance inmortall 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and incorruptible For as one said to live here is to be halfe dead at least death hath the all of a great part of our lives and dead works I think have above the one halfe of the most sanctified ones here who yet do die dayly 1 Cor. 15.31 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Cor. 7.24 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that they may live the more to Jesus Christ For the body the body of death as Paul calls it is but let
thy consolation as Simeon did sigh long for weep pray Joh. 2.8 Mat. 5.12 Heb. 10.35 Heb. 11.36 Luk. 16.22 Joh. 14.2.3 Hab. 2.3 and sit down in patience many wearisome dayes nights weekes months and yeares before the great and promised reward before the bosome of Abraham the mansion prepared or the vision of God comes but at last it comes and tarries not then bear up tossed back a while Christ is with thee in the ship Mat. 8.26 and thou canst not miscarry and in his appointed time shall be thine eeverlasting calme Go on then blessed soul in the strength of the Lord fear no death but comfort thy heart with the things already apprehended Phil. 3.13 and with infinite more behind concerning which observe the blessedness of such as die in the Lord. Rev. 14.13 1. The matter of this blessednes God enjoyed 2. The manner the beholding Gods face The matter lies in the glorious manifestation of God's majesticall presence Deu. 5 4. a little glimps whereof Israell had in the mount Exod. 33. vlt. Isa 6.5 and Moses when God put him into a clift of a rock and shewed him his back parts and the prophet Esai when he cryed out woe is me I am undone because I am a man of unclean lips c. For mine eyes have seen the King the Lord of hostes These did not neither could see Gods face and live but some thing God shewed to their understandings out of which they did conclude as they were able the greatnesse glory and majestie of God's presence but after death the blessed saints of God shal see more of God viz face to face and know as they are known 1 Cor. 3.12 of which more in the next 2. The manner of a saints beholding God is by an immediat and angelicall knowledg of the essentiall glory of the Lord God almighty and by a full enjoyment of the great Jehovahs beatificall presence Then shall we see the likenesse of God or see him as he is 1 Joh. 3.2 and then shall we know and see him to in an immediat union to and communion with God this is that which the godly-wise have much studied viz the matter manner of the saints happiness after death which I shall endevour to set out a little more 1. And so it is called light and life Psal 36.9 Col. 1..12 as the Psalmist a fountain of life in which we shall see light which is there opposed to the darknesse of condemnation not an amazing light Acts. 9. as was Sauls at his conversion but a rejoicing light and a glorious light inabling us to look with undazling eyes upon the sun of righteousnesse in the face It is called a kingdom which cannot be shaken Heb. 12.28 Luke 22.29 whether we are admitted free denisons under celestiall priviledges A kingdom without stirrs commotions or the least alterations not once needing councells nor armes Rev. 21.23 nor the light of the moon nor the sun but the lamb shall be the light thereof It 's called a crown in a fuller sence then any crown else Kings their crownes may be of gold Rev. 2.10 1 Cor. 9.25 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2 Tim. 4.8 but this a crown of life a crown incorruptible a crown of righteousness which shall never bee taken off the heads of the saints but they shall reign crowned forever in their inheritance of infinite extent 1 Pet. 1.5 and reserved in heaven for them as before 2 Cor. 5.1 It 's an eternall house not subject to dilapidations nor to be amended by reparations nor additions a house full of all provisions Luk. 22.30 even to satiety and fulnesse full of joyful company such as the glorious Trinity blessed saints and Angels full of plesant melody perfect harmony and one continued feast of glory Psal 16. ult 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 at the very right hand of God Sure I am this will comfort all Simeons in their desire to die And now to set out the manner a little more also how this blessed vision of God is communicated after death Godly and learned divines have wont to gather it from the analogie of Scriptures It 's a vision of intelligence wee shall see him saith the Scripture John 3.2 that is we shall know him spiritually and celestially without the least interposition of any cloud upon our understanding We shall know him saith the Scripture immediatly 1 Cor. 13.12 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Cant. 2.9 and not through a glass as below where believers see him who is invisible not through any lattesse but we shal be with him within the heavenly house of his glory and be ful of God as I may say and full of Christ and full of the Holy Ghost and never see night or darkness more Rev. 22.5 for God himself will bee all unto us and we shall reign with Christ for ever Soul doth not this use of consolation seat very high and canst chuse but with Simeon to desire to dye Psal 32.11 and to be glad in the Lord and rejoyce evermore All that I will add shal be this blessed soul thy glory shall be satisfactory and filled up to the top yea it shall mount above all thy desires In thy everlasting acquiescence and tranquility In thy eternall pleasures and consolation Rev. 7.17 First thy tranquility shal overflow as a mighty river at thy beholding the face of God Rev. 21.4 all enemies shall be destroyed Heb. 4.9 all perturbations shal finally cease Rev. 14.13 This is the rest and peace of all holy Simeons The second is thy eternal pleasure and sweet consolation which also floweth from the blessed beholding of Gods face Such shall be the Saints delight in God In thy presence Lord saith the Psalmist is fulnesse of joy not a mixed joy as of the Church on earth like the sweet smell of the prickie rose which somtimes runs into the flesh but like the joy of the Angels at the birth of Christ Luk. 2.10.13.14 who sang without interruption saying glory to God on highest on earth peace good will towards men Pleasure and joy in heaven be inviolable no man can take it away Joh. 16.22 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Rev. 19.1.3.6 Rev. 14.3 Exo. 15.1 Rev. 15.3 ever full of the sweetness and blessedness which is in God himself praising and magnifiing God with everlasting hallelujahs and singing the song of Moses and of the lamb without ceasing to all eternity Come pretious servant of God is not thy hony-combe full yet doth not this cup of consolation overflow Didst ever think in the daies of thy vanity when thou wast moved to look into thy wretched estate and damnable condition that thou mightest get out of that gall of bitterness Acts 8.23 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and bond of iniquitie and when moved with the matchles love of God with the sweetnesse and fulnesse of God in Christ laid
the chambers of death which is by the way a rich comfort to the saints of God that God Father Son Holy Ghost are in Covenant with bodies Num. 23.10 Ps 102.13 14. as wel as souls yea when they shal be laid in the grave and moultered to dust God is in covenant with that dust with Ahrahams with Isaacs and Jacobs dust with the dust of their seed lying in their graves in which respect the saints bodies are said to sleep in their death to rest in hope Nay I verily believe there is more yet in the dust and bones of dead bodies that they have a kind of desire after resurrection 1 Thes 4.16 Isai 60.1 Isai 26.19 Joh. 5.28 go but into a vault of mens dead bones and tarry there an hour or two and they will draw much of your spirit and livelihood from you put you under great thirst till some days after and after the word of command from Christs mouth to arise to come forth to appear and to stand before Christ to receive their glorious enlargment and blessed investiture into that glorious Kingdom which their Lord Christ hath purchased for all that dye in Jesus Thus our bodies must be set in order before death in these four last mentioned respects 1. They must be mortified crucified bodies 2. Implanted members of Christs body 3. Kept chaste and holy for Christs use 4. Bodies in Covenant with God the Father Son holy Ghost The next duty in the third head incumbent to him that will dye well and preparedly is to set his house in order By the house may be understood the persons dwelling in family with us and more especially the children who are to be disposed of according to their rank condition and capacity as Noah prepared an ark Heb. 11.7 and so his care passed over every one of them Or by house is meant the affairs of the houshold and family thus Joseph is used by Potiphar to manage and order the affairs of his house and family Or else it is taken to dispose of the goods of the family Gen. 39.5 6. to divide and give to every one his portion or estate according unto right reason and natural affection that a mans posterity may more comfortably serve God in the state and condition in which the godly-wise shall see good to leave him thus Abraham before his death gave his Isaac the inheritance and to his other Children hee he gave gifts Gen 25.5 6. and legacies and sent them away while he yet lived and so gave up the ghost See Weams his exposition pag. 80. 81. on Job 5.26 and Gen. 29.8 and died in a good old age an old man and full of years and was gathered to his people to insist a little on this The all wise-disposing providence of our heavenly Father hath laid out the estate and condition of us in which we must serve him in the wel managing of our talents with which he hath intrusted us Mat. 25.15 and of which some have more and some have less of this lumber to possesse yea the very wicked have a just title under God as I prove out of Job Job 9.24 the earth is given into the hands of the wicked to raign and bear rule yea and to be Judges in it and God somtimes himself covers the face of such Judges as a condemned mans face going to execution earth is there put for all terrene and worldly things as the Psalmist even the heavens or the heaven of heavens is the Lords Psal 115.16 but the earth hath he given to the children of men The Lord by deed of gift hath providentially reached out all good things here below promiscously to all men by his own line or meat yard Num. 33.54 saving unto us all here is thy lot thy habitation thy land thy lease thy goods and thy estate thy bound dominion and possession Jos 1â— 6 chap. 18.10 hitherto shall they extend and no further here 's thy confinement with a non ultra yea what ever wicked men come to possess or inherit by adoption descent or succession from fathers grandfathers ancestours or other allyances yet all is the gift of God's common providence and for believers whatsoever they have comes in the name of Christs purchase for them and by speciall covenant and promise unto them Rom. 8.32 for as God spared not his own Son but gave him to dye for them how shall he not with him also freely give them all things which make for their good Earth is given to the sons of men to the just and to the unjust but heaven is given into the faints hands as it were Benjamin's mess I must go one step further yet and that is what wicked men do unlawfully get rake ring cheat rob plunder and by violence and oppression recover and injuriously wrest from others is in a sense the gift of God viz. he permitting them to range a while to prey upon the poor innoceÌ„ the fatherless orphant widow and stranger so he permitted wicked Ahab to kill 1 King 21. Jer. 22.13 and take possession of innocent Naboths Vineyard and he permits Shallum to build his house by unrighteousness and his chambers by wrong to use his neighbours service without wages and saith to him by his Prophet thine eyes and thy heart are not but for thy covetousness and for to shed innocent blood and for oppression and for violence to do it all this did our all-wise God order in his common providence to last a while till Shallum had run his course and filled up the measure of his iniquity but then the Lord sends a cruel adversary like a ravening wolf of the evening to execute his just judgment upon Shallum according to that prediction in the seventh vers of the two twentieth of Jeremiah saying ver 7. I will prepare destroyers against thee every one with his weapons and they shall cut down thy choice Cedars and Shallum the son of Josiah King of Judah he shal dye in the place whither they have led him captive ver 12. and he shall see his land no more Now mark how the Lord speaks of this destroyer Nebuchadnezzar by name Jer. 27.6 I have given all these lands into the hands of Nebuchadnezzar the King of Babilon my servant and the beasts of the field have I given also to serve him And all nations shall serve him and his son named Evilmerodach 2 Kings 25.27 Jer. 52.31 Dan. 5.1 and his son namely Belshazzar the Lord disposed of those Countries by donat oÌ„ to him yet Nebuchadnezzar invades and spoiles and takes them and theirs by violence upon which say the annotations well that the great God of heaven and earth sent him against a people of the Lords wrath and gâ—ve him a charge to take the spoil Isa 10.6 and to take the prey and to tread them down like the mire of the streets and he went
fear death nor to avoid it's snares for death of it self is not good nor is it naturall to us but cruell and horrible but basely to fear death rather then to glorifie the name of God in our sufferings this is a great sin to bee afraid to dye after an evill life and out of Christ to such death is the terrible of terribles such cannot bee well willing to dye but when God shall in the way of his good providence call us to dye either by a naturall death or to seal unto his truth under persecution to dye a violent death then we may welcome death and the instruments of death as Historians say Saint Andrew did Salve crux pretiosa susci pe nunc Discipulum cúm priùs sustinueris Magistrum Thus M. John Philpot embraced the stake in Smithfield who with a gladsome Spirit said I kindly salute thee precious cross be content to bear me the Disciple who hast formerly born my Master every Simeon is carried above the apprehensions of naturall and morall men in death and hath very grand considerations neither basely nor sinfully to fear death and therefore subscribes unto her with heart and hand Answ 2. The fear of death in the Saints and the fear of death in others are very diverse the one is acted by sinfull-self whom such an one seeks to preserve for fear of greater wrath the other is acted by gracious self who seeks to know the minde of God in his death to subscribe to it and to serve divine providence as in life so in death whom if the Lord shal recover or deliver he gives himself to God again if the Lord hath determined death shall take place hee resigns up soul and body with an holy contentment Mat. 26.39 under the good pleasure of his heavenly Father Let Pagans and Infidels who never believed who never feared God fear to dye or despair in death because they dye without hope Eph. 2.12 Collos 1.20.21 Eph. 1.10 because they have no faith nor do lay hold on that reconciliation which Jesus Christ hath made between the Lord and gracious souls but let Christians rejoice and be glad ever giving thanks unto the Father of mercies Col. 1.1.2 who hath made them meet to be pertakers of the inheritance of the Saints in light Which inherirance for scituation is the Empyrean heaven far above all heavens where is Christ himself to entertain and glorifie all those who sleep in him where is nothing but glory for all such poor souls dying in the Lord as the King of Glory to be with all vessels of glory to accompany us thrones of glory to sit on an eternal wait of eternal glory 2 Pet. 2.1.11 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 An enterance shall be administred to you abundantly or according to the originall richly Phil. 1.23 to put on crowns of glory to wear a kingdō of glory to possess here the soul of the departing one cries out in a blessed ecstasie I have enough blessed Lord I come I come having so abundant an entrance made for me into celestiall triumphs blessed be God who hath made me thus willing desirous rather to be absent from the body and to bee present with the Lord where I am assured to find peace without intermission or perturbation health without sickness plenty without want wealth without poverty and everlasting life without death Of which holy City said Austin when shall I come into thy golden streets when shall I see and enjoy the heavenly society of blessed souls and that glorious Jubilee Fain I would come to fruition but Oh how am I detain'd anon will death come behold she stands at the door and knocks bid her come in that I may bid her welcome to whom I am ready to answer as Rebekah did Gen. 24. to her old near and dear relations who were so loath to part with her I will go with the man so say I even withlong-looked-for death my harbinger and friend Oh death I willingly go along with thee whom my Lord hath made so necessary and serviceable to me in my happy translation Acts 10. for me thinks I see Heaven open as Peter in his vision and the son of man like as Stephen did see him standing at the right hand of God Oh my soul thou art in a rapture divine to contemplate the things in heaven which are so unspeakable and ful of glory True I shall in death be taken from my deerest friends but let not that retard my souls willingnesse to dye for it s not improbable but I may know my gracious friends in heaven since our divine knowledg there shall not be diminished but enlarged hence some conclude we shall joyfully know the Patriachs and Apostles of our Lord and this seems the more rationall because Peter and James Mat. 17.13 and John at the transfiguration knew Moses and Elias whom they knew not before so shall the sun of righteousness irradiate the Saints with the celestiall beams of his transcendent glory The last thing in our submission in the point of death is to shut our own eyes and to bind up our own jawes when the departing soul utters her last words blessing God for that land of promise which like Moses shee sees at a distance Deut. 34.4 Jos 23.6 8 11.14 so Joshua about to dye shuts his own eyes exhorting the people to fear and serve the Lord so did Stephen who calling on the name of the Lord fell asleep so did Simeon gathered up disposed and prepapared himself most sweetly singing Lord now lettest thou c. Our blessed Saviour doth as it were shut up his own eyes and bind up his jaws in that he sweetly submitted himself to the hand of death saying Lu. 23.45 Father into thy hands I do commend my spirit and so do all wel prepared souls take care to dye under an holy resignation of their bodies to the grave for a time of their departing souls into the hands and bosom of Jesus Christ who is our Reuben to take care of our Benjamin that is Gen. 42.37 of our immortall souls to convey them safely unto our Fathers house Thus of the third Exhortation which is wisely to submit unto the Lord God in every estate in our health in our sickness in the approaches of death and and at the point of death 4. Exhortation 4. Exhort To friends not to grieve over-much at their departure who dye in the Lord. It is lawful commendable it is just and honorable to have sad thoughts at the losse of such friends If the very Egyptians mourned for old Jacob seventy days that with a great sore lamentation Gen. 53. 1 Sam. 15.35 2 Sam. 13.37 2 Chro. 35.24 if Samuell mourned for Saul and David shall not we much more mourn when the Saints are taken from us All Judah and Jerusalem mourned for Josiah Surely then it is not onely naturall and morall but it is religious