therefore it s of undoubted truth and asserted by the spirit of Truth that Gods people are in a blessed condition after death Not only such as die for the Lord who were put to cruell torments and to suffer death by Antichristian Persecutors for not complying with them in their idolatrous worship but such as die in the Lord are blessed i.e. such as were effectually called unto fellowship with Jesus Christ and united to him by faith as members of his mysticall body are happy in their death Death puts a period to all their troubles and labours and brings them to the enjoyment of rest and peace and to receive the reward of their works Here are no purgatory-torments mentioned to be endured by them after death but a perfect cessation from all labour and a full enioyment of rest and blisse To give instance in some examples of Gods people who have had hope in their death we finde that Jacob when he lay on his Death-bed professed his hope of salvation and enioying a better life Gen. 49.18 I have waited for thy salvation O Lord so Abel Enock Noah Abraham Sarah Heb. 11.13 These all died in faith not having received the promises but having seen them a farre off and were perswaded of them and embraced them and confessed that they were strangers on earth declaring plainly that they expected a better Countrey that is an heavenly Thus Moses chose rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the pleasure of sin for a season Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward and endured as seeing him who is invisible vers 25 26 27. Job's spirit was upheld from sinking into despair under all his pressures losses and afflictions and he professeth his hope even in death Though he slay me yet will I trust in him Job 13.15 as if he had said if God should take away my life yet would I in the midst of death expect a better life from him So David Psal 23.4 Though I walk through the Valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil And Psal 73.26 my flesh and my heart faileth but God is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever his hope of being received into glory after death encouraged him to go on in the wayes of righteousnesse whatever afflictions he underwent in his life time Paul in time of his imprisonment at Rome lest the Philippians should be discouraged at his sufferings professeth his earnest expectation and hope of salvation and that he was not any way afraid of death but rather desirous of it in regard of the gain and benefit he should reap by it Phil. 1.21 for to me to live is Christ and to die is gain that is Christ is my life here by grace and hereafter by glory he is both the Authour and end of my life and if I be put to death that shall no way endamage me but rather bring me great advantage in regard that thereby I shall exchange and gain Heaven for Earth and an happy eternal life for this miserable and mortal life and vers 23 I am in a strait betwixt two having a desire to depart and to be with Christ which is far better And again 2 Tim. 4.6 7 8 giving notice of his approaching death and that the time of his Martyrdom was now at hand he professeth his hope in his death I am now ready to be offered and the time of my departure is at hand I have fought a good fight I have finished my course I have kept the faith Henceforth there is laid up for me a Crown of righteousnesse which the Lord the righteous Judge shall give me at that day and not to me onely but unto them also that love his appearing and again 1 Cor. 15.19 If we have hope in Christ in this life onely we are of all men most miserable Cyprian speaking of the nature of death to believers saith It is Janua vitae victoria belli portus maris The gate of life the victory of war the haven of the Sea death to Gods people is as the Angel was to Peter to fetch him out of prison and set him at liberty Act. 12.7 c. and as Pharaohs Messenger was to Joseph to remove him out of the Dungeon into Pharaohs Court Gen. 41.14 where he was highly advanced to Honour and Dignity The benefits which believers hope to be made partakers of by death are either such as concern their Souls or their bodies The Souls of believers are at their death made perfect in holinesse Heb. 12.23 and brought to the spirits of just men made perfect Death abolisheth sin and corruption in believers and brings finalem gratiam the perfection of grace that may make them capable of glorie as sin brought death into the World so death drives sin out of Gods peoples natures Rom. 6.7 he that is dead is freed from sin there is not so much as any remnant of sin that cleaves to a believing Soul after death but it is presented unto Christ without spot or wrinkle void of all sinfull infirmities Here the best of Gods Saints grone under the burden of their corruptions 2 Cor. 5.4 and cry out with Paul Rom. 7.24 O wretched man that I am who shall deliver me from the body of this death before death the best Christians complain the good that I would I do not but the evil that I would not that I do Rom. 7.19 but now after death the least in the Kingdom of Heaven saith the evil that I would not I do not and the good that I would I do 1. By death they have full discharge from all possibility of offending God Death is a loosening to the Children of God here they are as it were tyed to a stake to be baited by Sathan and his instruments death is the breaking of the Chain and the Soul escapeth as a Bird out of the snare of the Fowler as the fire burnt the bonds of the three Children and so procured their liberty so death is a Goal-delivery to the Children of God That one happy pang which pulls away the Soul from the body doth also pull away sin both from the Soul and body Greenham Byfield Hieron Hildersam c. to this purpose many of our English Divines have written excellently to comfort the surviving friends of deceased Saints to cure them of the fear of death So Polan Syntagm 342. Mors electis credentibus non est pro peccatis satisfactio sed peccati abolitio transitus in vitam aeternam By death believers are freed from all occasions of sin Temptations to sin Power and dominion of it yea from all dregs and remainders of sin This made the Martyrs so willing to endure any kinde of death that Tyranny could devise that they might be rid of their sinfull bands and this corruptible burden which presseth down the Soul that looks
faithfullnes towards them which they have had in time of their life confirmes their hope of obtaining what good things he hath promised them after death Vers 4. experience worketh Hope So that believers in greatest straits may argue as David against Goliah 1. Sam. 17.37 The Lord that delivered me out of the Paw of the Lion and out of the Paw of the Bear he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine and as Paul 2. Cor. 1.9 10. We had the sentence of death in our selves that we should not trust in our selves but in God which raiseth the dead who delivered us from so great a death and doth deliver in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us 6. Lastly Because of Gods bounty towards others in this life The Lord bestows liberal portions of outward blessings upon many that regard not to serve and honour him but go on in wayes of Rebellion wicked men prosper and abound in worldly comforts sometimes when good men want them surely then this argueth that he hath reserved better things in store for his own Children after death Psalm 31.19 O how great is thy goodnesse which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee This consideration David made use of as a ground to confirm his hope in death of enjoying happinesse after this life Psal 17.14 15. the men of the World have their portion in this life whose belly thou fillest with thy hid treasure As for me I will behold thy face in righteousnesse I shall be satisfied when I awake with thy likenesse he professeth his resolution to go on in the wayes of God expecting a gracious yea a glorious issue out of all his dangers and persecutions q.d. I will not live wickedly as they do but righteously and then I shall enjoy thy favour here and Heaven hereafter I shall view thy face and see thee plainly and perfectly and stand in thy presence where is fulnesse of joy when I awake i.e. from the sleep of death when I am raised out of the dust I shall be satisfied with thy likenesse having thine image upon me and thy glory fully manifested unto me in Heaven this beatifical Vision shall so abundantly satiate and solace my Soul that it shall say I have enough So Ps 49. when in death worldly men leave their wealth to others and are like the beasts that perish i.e. dying without hope of any further happinesse yea in a worse condition for death shall feed on them vers 14. yea the second death shall have power over them and they shall lye in Hell-torments then saith the righteous even under the pangs of death vers 15. But God will redeem my Soul from the power of the grave for he shall receive me Selah Where Selah is added not onely as a bare Musical Note for raising of the voice c. but it calls for elevation of minde and more than ordinary attention pointing at a clear Testimony for the immortality of the Soul and for a better life after this the hope whereof fills the hearts of the godly with comfort and triumphant joy even under the pangs of death For he shall receive me whensoever the fatal hour shall come that body and Soul must part God will receive my spirit into Heaven So again Psal 73.24.26 against all the discouragements which he met with in the wayes of God from the present prosperity which the wicked enjoyed and the manifold afflictions that himself under-went he comforts himself in certain hope of eternal life and being received up into glory and hereupon resolves still to follow the conduct and direction of Gods word and spirit Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel in this life and after this life ended wilt receive me to that glory which thou hast promised me Thus have I made good the truth of the Doctrinal Proposition The righteous hath hope in his death and confirmed it by shewing you several grounds and reasons and should now come to make application of it but I desire first to remove one objection that seems to lye in the way Quest If the righteous have such hope in their death how comes it to passe and why is it that some good Christians are so fearfull of death and so unwilling to die Why are they not rather desirous to die having such hope of future glory happiness Answ It is true there may be in the dearest of Gods Children an unwillingnesse and fear to die Jeremy petitioned King Zedekiah that he might not be sent again to the house of Jonathan the Scribe lest he should die there Jer. 37.20 if he were shut up close prisoner in that nasty stinking Dungeon so our Saviour forewarning Peter of the manner of his death tells him he should be carried whither he would not Ioh. 21.18 and some of the Martyrs have sometimes found fear and unwillingnesse in themselves to die Latymer in a Letter to B. Ridley writes thus Pray for me I say pray for me for I am sometimes so fearfull that I would creep into a Mous-hole c. as Lot lingred when God would take him out of Sodom so there is some backwardnesse and unwillingnesse in the Saints of God to leave this world and to die And the reasons of it may be 1. Death causeth a parting of two most dear inward and ancient friends the dissolution of Soul and body one from the other is unpleasing to nature old friends are loath to part when David and Jonathan were to depart one from another O how grievous was their parting 1 Sam. 20.41 But the Soul and body have been more inward and ancient friends than Jonathan and David were no marvel therefore though they part so unwillingly The untying of the Marriage-knot between Soul and body is unwelcome to nature though grace may bid it welcome which suggests another reason 2. The best of Gods Children believe but in part and are not perfectly rid of sin and corruption till death They have flesh remaining in them as well as spirit Gal. 5.17 and though the spirit be willing yet the flesh is weak Matth. 26.41 The spirit saith to death as to Christ Come but the flesh saith Go The flesh saith its good being here though the spirit saith it s better being in Heaven and it may be believers do not stir up their graces nor read over their Evidences nor consider seriously of their Priviledges by and after death Yet lastly I answer Though there be some unwillingnesse in the best to die yet they know it is their fault and sin to be unwilling and they chide themselves for it and overcome this unwillingnesse in the end many who in their life-time have seemed unwilling to die and afraid of death yet when it hath come to the point have been suddenly strengthened beyond expectation willingly and cheerfully to lay down their heads on the block yea to yield up their bodies to the flames and have bid death welcome though it hath seized upon them with
instruments of cruelty and tormenting pains as old Hilarion encouraged himself to die Egredere anima mea noli timere go forth O my Soul be not afraid to die However though some let the aqua vitae Bottle hang by and use it not when a qualm comes yet such as actuate their faith and renue their repentance dayly and exercise themselves in having a good conscience may rejoyce in hope of the glory of God and be above dismaying fears though they walk in the Valley of the shadow of death I hasten now to the Application of the Doctrine seeing the Righteous have Hope in their Death The uses hereof may be of 1. Confutation 2. Information 3. Examination 4. Exhortation Use 1. Vse 1. Of Confutation of that grosse cursed opinion of the Mortalists who deny the immortality of the Soul hold that mans Soul dies with the body that whole man is a compound wholly mortal and that the present going of the Soul to Heaven or Hell is a meer fiction with much more such unsavoury stuffe which hath been published of late better becoming Professours of Epicurisme than of Christianity whereas the Scripture teacheth us that the Soul of Man is the spirit of life breathed in by God and made immortal that it cannot die at the separation from the body Genes 2.7 Math. 10.28 And that the spirits of believers and just men in their separation from their bodies passe immediately to Heaven to be and live with the Lord Math. 22.32 2 Cor. 5.4 8. Phil. 1.23 In that 22. of Matth. 31 32. Christ proves against the Sadduces the Resurrection of the body by an argument drawn from the immortality of the Soul and maintains it that Abraham Isaac and Jacob were then living in regard of their Souls though their bodies were in the dust They whose God the Lord is must needs be in being and living But the Lord said long after their death Exod. 3.6 I am the God of Abraham the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob It is well observed in our English Annotations on Math. 22.32 He doth not say the Lord of Abraham for he is Lord of livelesse things also Math. 11.25 the Lord of Heaven and Earth but the God of Abraham i.e. in Covenant with him Now seeing this Covenant of God was with the bodies of these three Patriarcks as well as with their Souls as appears by their Circumcision it follows that as their Souls were then alive so their bodies must needs be raised from the dead and be made eternally happy Mr. Burroughs in the beginning of his Gospel-Conversation notes that Phil. 1.23 is a notable Scripture to prove the immortality of the Soul for certainly if the Soul did die with the body it could not have been better for Paul to have been dead than to live it were better that Paul had lived even to the day of Judgement than to have died and so to be nothing and turned into dust but he saith that when he died he should be with Christ which was better for him therefore he knew the Soul doth not die with the body So Zanchy observes two arguments in that desire or wish of Paul Phil. 1.23 to prove the immortality of the Soul 1. in that expression to depart be dissolved or loosed Death is no destruction but a dissolution onely or taking asunder the parts of which we are composed that is a separation of the Soul from the body Solutio a corpore declarat animam esse substantiam per se subsistentem 2. to be with Christ which cannot be unlesse the Soul be a substance subsisting by it self Animae sanctorum exutae corporibus migrant in coelum sunt cum Christo So Psal 49.15 is a clear testimony for the immortality of the Soul and for a better life after this without which assurance we might say with the Apostle in the language of Epicures 1 Cor. 15.32 Let us eat and drink for to morrow we die which Athiestical speech of theirs the Apostle reproves in the words following and fully confutes their Opinion in that chapter 2. Vse Of Information in 2. Branches 1. It informes us of the Gaine of Godlines if the Righteous have such hope in their death then surely the mystery of Christianity is a most rich and gainfull Profession if it be followed and improved by us aright 1. Tim. 4.8 Godlines is profitable unto all things having the promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come so 1. Tim. 6.6 7. Godlines with contentment is great gain Death will plunder and bereave us of all our worldly gain and prove a trap-dore to let our soules drop down into hell if we have busied our selves in the pursuit of worldly riches with the neglect of godlines as the Apostle shews vers 9.10 and therefore he calls off Timothy from following after worldly gain too greedily yea he bids him flee these things and exhorts him to follow after Righteousnes Godlines that so he may lay hold on eternall life vers 11.12 and Paul tells us Phil. 1.21 for to me to live is Christ and to die is gain Death is gainfull to such as live to Christ so Solomon Prov. 11.4 shewes us what is more profitable and gainfull than Riches namely Righteousnesse and when and also wherein it will appeare so even in the day of wrath and houre of death when riches will not profit then Righteousnes will stand us in greatest steed and prove most advantagious to us Riches profit not in the day of wrath but Righteousnes delivereth from death Death is the King of terrours Hells stalking horse the feare of it keeps men in bondage most men look upon it as their greatest enemy not to be resisted nor avoided by them But now Righteousnes delivers from it The righteous hath a wonderfull victory over it and receives wonderfull gain by it as I have shewed at large before therefore Righteousnes is better than Riches 2. I hasten now to the 2. Branch of the use of Information which is to shew us the truth of that Proverb The Righteous is more excellent then his neighbour Pro. 12.26 and wherein it doth appeare viz in this that the Righteous hath hope in his death Psal 37.37 Mark the perfect man and behold the upright for the end of that man is peace However the wicked and ungodly may vilify and despise Gods people counting them as the filth of the world and the off-scouring of all things while they live thinking meanely of them as a company of silly fooles and mad men yea speaking evil of them because they will not run with them to the same excesse of riot yet when believers come to die then it will appeare that they are the excellent of the earth in so much that even Balaam wished that he might die the death of the Righteous and let my last end be like his Numb 23.10 Yea as the saints are the most precious and excellent in the
account of God while they live so that he reckons them as his Jewells and peculiar treasure so also their death is precious in the sight of the Lord Psal 110.15 But as for the wicked it is not so with them Psal 34.21 Evil shall slay the wicked i.e. they shall perish in their sins the vulgar Latin translates it Mors peccatorum pâ—ssima the death of sinners and wicked men is worst of all and Bellarmin glossing upon it gives this reason quid initium erit cruciatuum aeternorum because death to wicked men is the beginning of eternall torments an inlett to endlesse woe and misery However for a while wicked men may seeme to flourish as the green Bay tree and the proud may be counted happy they that worke wickednes may be set up and they that tempt God may be even delivered yet there will come a time when the Lord will make up his Jewells and then we shall discern between the righteous and the wicked between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not Yea the day cometh that shall burn as an oven and all the proud and all that doe wickedly shall be stubble But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of Righteousnesse arise with healing in his wings Mal. 3.17 18. Chap. 4.1 2. David having in the first Psalme described the Righteous by his Properties and mentioned some of his Priviledges and pronounced him blessed puts a difference vers 4. c. between the righteous and the wicked and tells us the ungodly are not so but are like the Chaffe which the winde drives away and as Solomon tells us in the words before my Text the wicked is driven away in his wickednes Having considered the state of the righteous in his death and shewn it to be very hopefull and comfortable that it may more fully appear that the righteous is more excellent than his neighbour viz. his wicked neighbour that is set so neer him in the Text let us a little consider what becomes of him at his death what is said of him here He is driven away thrust at chased as chaffe before the winde Here let us enquire into these 4 particulars 1. the manner how 2. the place whence and from what he is driven 3. whither 4. by whom he is driven by what Drivers How is the wicked driven away 1. suddenly 2. violently 3. desperately First suddenly and unexpectedly Psal 73.18 19. surely thou didst set them in slippery places thou castedst them down into destruction how are they brought into Desolation as in a moment they are utterly consumed with terrours Job 21.13 in a moment they goe down to the grave Secondly violently forcibly against his will Job 27.20 21. Terrours take hold on him as waters a tempest stealeth him away in the night the east winde carrieth him away and he departeth and as a storm hurleth him out of his place the troubles and terrours which befall wicked men at their death are here set out by similitudes taken from a deluge of waters or storm of winde which come suddenly and prevaile irresistibly overturn all in their way like a whirle-winde Death takes them away suddenly spite in their teeth Luk. 12.20 Thou foole this night shall thy Soul be required of thee Eccles 9.12 as fishes that are taken in an evil net and as the birds that are caught in the snare so are the sons of men snared in an evil time when it falleth suddenly upon them Thirdly desperately driven away in his wickednes dying either in the act of sin or under the guilt and bondage of sin Joh. 8.21 it was a dreadfull doome threatned by our saviour against the unbelieving Jewes ye shall die in your sins its better to die in a ditch or in prison or on the gallowes than to die in sin to be driven away in ones wickednes is a desperate driving away to die without hope opposite to the righteous mans case in his death Prov. 11.7 when a wicked man dieth his expectation shall perish and the hope of unjust men perisheth i.e. his affection of hope and happines hoped for and strongest meanes to attain to his hope shall end with his life and die at his death and vanish away at the time of his destruction So Job 8.13 14. Thus for the manner how the wicked is driven away Secondly from whence and from what He is driven from all earthly friends Comforts enjoyments hopes habitation Iob 18.14 his confidence shall be rooted out of his Tabernacle and it shall bring him to the King of terrours vers 18 he shall be driven from light into darknesse and chased out of the world from all meanes of Grace Eccles 9.10 from all further society with Gods people yea from Gods gracious presence and protection 2. Thess 1.9 3. Whither into darknes his body into the slimy valley into the pit of corruption and his Soul into the pit of destruction Psal 9.17 the wicked shall be turned into hell and all the nations that forget God Death to wicked men is Hells pale stalking-horse or the Riden on that pale horse with whom Hell followed after Rev. 6.8 4. By what Drivers By sword diseases Death sinne sathan c. The Prophet Ezekiel denouncing Gods vengeance against the Ammonites Moabites and other Enemyes for their insolency and insulting over the Jews in their Calamity saith Ezek. 35.6 Bloud shall pursue thee sith thou hast not hated bloud bloud shall pursue thee as Abels bloud pursued Cain with Hue and Cry for vengeance Prov. 13.21 Evill pursueth sinners Pro. 11.19 As righteousnes tendeth to life so he that pursueth evil pursueth it to his own death 2. Pet. 2.1 wicked men eagerly pursuing their own lusts bring upon themselves swift destruction The Psalmist speaks of a driving Angel that shall chase and pursue wicked men Psal 35.5 6. let them be as the Chaffe before the winde and let the Angel of the Lord chase them yea let the Angel of the Lord persecute them Thus you see there want not Drivers to chase away the wicked out of the world and to hurry them into the pit of destruction whereby the second branch of the Use of Information hath been fully and cleerely made good that the Righteous is more excellent than his Neighbour Death is so far from putting an end to the miseries of wicked men that its the beginning of their sorrowes an entrance into endlesse woe and misery it puts an end to their joyes and troubles too in this world but it brings them to a world of everlasting troubles Revel 2.23 they shall be killed with death Death is killing to the wicked but it s mors vitalis quickning curing and very gainfull to the Godly it puts them into possession of eternall life the Righteous hath hope in his death Therefore let none be discouraged from the wayes of God because of the flowrishing of the wicked or the troubles and afflictions of the righteous in this life let them
seek to be inherently holy Col. 1.5 6. for the hope which is laid up for you in Heaven whereof ye heard before in the Gospel which bringoth forth fruit in you c. vers 27.28 So Col. 3.1 2 4 5 from the consideration of their hope of future glory with Christ he exhorts them to heavenly mindednesse and to mortify their earthly Members c. So Titus 2.11 12 13 14. The grace of God teacheth us that denying ungodlinesse and worldly lusts we should live soberly righteously and godly in this present World looking for that blessed hope c. Try by these marks whether your hope be such as will not make you ashamed but stand you in stead to afford you comfort in the hour of death or whether you be in the number of those that are in danger of being driven away in their wickednesse and so apply comfort or terrour accordingly but I must hasten to one Use more and so conclude 4. Vse Of Exhortation in 2. Branches 1. To the surviving friends and relations of dying and deceased Saints to moderate their grief and sorrow for their Christian friends when they die seeing the righteous hath hope in his death and by death is made partaker of so many priviledges and enjoyes the possession of what we yet desire and hope for let not Christians sorrow as men without hope for them which are asleep in Jesus 1 Thes 4.13 14. He forbids not Christian sorrow for the dead but Heathenish not moderate but excessive and immoderate either in respect of time or measure of our grief we may water our Plants for our deceased friends as one expresseth it but not drown them It is good that we should lay to heart the death of the righteous and take notice of Gods hand in it and our losse and danger thereby so as to mourn and be affected with sorrow for it the Lord blames them for their stupidity and regardlesnesse who laid it not to heart when the righteous were taken away Isa 57.1 but we should not suffer our hearts to be overwhelmed with grief but moderate our sorrow considering their gain and benefit by death they are taken away from evil to come and enter into peace Our Saviour perceiving the hearts of his Disciples sadded at the thoughts of his departure from them tells them Joh. 14.28 if ye loved me ye would rejoyce because I go unto the Father See how David moderated and asswaged his grief and sorrow when he understood that his Childe was dead by considering that God had now revealed his will by his work whereunto his people must patiently submit their wills and that it would be bootlesse 2 Sam. 12.23 and in vain for him to afflict his Soul further with grief in regard of his Childe whom he could not restore to life being now dead and further he considered his own mortality and his Childes happy estate by death which David also comforted himself in hope of attaining unto I shall go to him c. Consider how willing and ready Barzillai was to part with Chimham and glad to have him preferred in the Court of King David 2 Sam. 19.37 and shall not we be content and willing to part with our dearest friends and relations for their good when the King of Heaven sends for them to live in his Court and to stand in his presence where is sulnesse of joy and pleasures for ever more The 2. Branch of this Use of Exhortation is of more general concernment to exhort all so to redeem their time and to improve their talents whilest they live that they may have hope in their death and that their hope may not be cut off and make them ashamed to this purpose observe and practise these 8. Directions 1. Renounce all confidence in the flesh and lay your mouths in the dust sit alone consider your wayes look into the glasse of the Law to discover and take a view of your spiritual spots blemishes and deformities so as to loath and abhorre your selves yea to despair in your selves by reason of your sin and misery Lam. 3.28.29 2. Close in with Christ get interest in him by faith Col. 1.27 Christ in you the hope of glory but without Christ without hope Eph. 2.12 Fides est fundamentum spei Faith is the foundation of true hope Gal 5.5 John 11.25 26. Jesus said unto Martha I am the Resurrection and the life he that believeth in me though he were dead yet shall he live and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die 3. Renue thy repentance dayly 1 Joh. 3.3 Every one that hath this hope must purifie himself they that hope to appear with Christ in glory must mortifie their earthly Members Col. 3 4 5. Die dayly to sin lest thou die in sin and so perish for ever The wicked is driven away in his wickednesse such as look for that blessed hope must deny ungodlinesse Tit. 2.12 13. sin deadens and destroyes hope 4. Follow after righteousnesse 1 Tim. 4.8 6.11 12. seek righteousnesse it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the Lords wrath Zeph. 2.3 saving hope is called the hope of righteousnesse Gal. 5 5. Walk uprightly Isa 57.2 Add to your faith vertue c. for â—o an entrance shall be ministred to you abundantly into the everlasting Kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ 2 Pet. 1.5 11. Be abundant in the work of the Lord for as much as you know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord 1 Cor. 15. Ult. This consideration afforded succour and relief to the drooping spirit of Hezekiah when he received the sentence of death from the Lord against himself that he had walked before the Lord in truth and done that which was good in his sight Isa 38.3 5. Sit loose from the World in your hearts and affections and be heavenly-minded having your conversation in Heaven Paul tells the Philippians that their end is destruction who minde earthly things and they that look for the Saviour the Lord Jesus Christ to come from Heaven to change their vile bodies and that they may be fashioned like unto his glorious body have their conversation in Heaven Phil 3.19.20 21. So 1 Tim 6.8 9 10 11. directing them how to lay hold on eternal life he adviseth them to moderate their affections towards the good things of the World and to be content with necessaries because of the danger of covetousnesse and inordinate desire of riches whereby men have been drowned in destruction and perdition and have pierced themselves through with many sorrowes 6. Be well grounded in the knowledge of the Scriptures Joh. 5.39 Col. 3.16 Psal 130 5. I wait for the Lord my Soul doth wait and in his word do I hope Study the Promises the Tenour of them and to whom they are made that so thou mayest be ready to give a reason of the hope that is in thee 1 Pet. 3.15 7. Labour for a patient submissive frame of spirit
LIFE IN DEATH OR The living Hope of a dying Saint HANDLED IN A SERMON Preached at the Funeral of that Eminently Vertuous and Religious Gentle-woman Mris MARY MORLEY Late wife to Colonel Harbert Morley Esq and Daughter to Sr. JOHN TREVOR Knight By Zachary Smith Minister of the Gospel and Pastor of the Church at Glynde in Sussex Sept. 18. 1656. Psal 116.15 Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his Saints Prov. 10.28 The hope of the righteous shall be gladnesse but the expectation of the wicked shall perish 1 Cor. 15.19 If in this life onely we have hope in Christ we are of all men most miserable Polani Syntagma pag. 342. Mors electis credentibus non est pro peccatis satisfactio sed peccati abolitio transitus in vitam aeternam 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Greg. Nazianzen Orat. 21. London Printed by W. Bentley for Andrew Crook at the sign of the green Dragon in Pauls Church-yard 1656. To the Honourable Sr. JOHN TREVOR Knight And to his vertuous Consort the Lady ANNE TREVOR As also to the Honourable Colonel HARBERT MORLEY Esq HONOURABLE I Make bold to prefix your names to this plain ensuing Sermon not that I conceive it worthy of your Patronage but because none had sadder hearts than your selves at the occasion of it nor any Persons on earth greater Interest in or nearer Relation to that precious Gentle-woman at whose Funeral it was preached If my heart deceive me not it 's not desire of vain-glory that makes me willing to publish this Sermon but rather these motives First a desire that God may have the glory of the Soveraignty of his grace ascribed unto him who can so deeply implant his fear in the hearts of his people that they shall never depart from him and can keep alive those sparks of heavenly fire which he casts into the bosoms of his Children in the midst of the Sea of worldly encumbrances or enjoyments Many waters cannot quench love a proof whereof was evident in her she lost not her first love to Christ and his Truth in these times of Libertinisme and Errour neither did the Cares or Profits or Pleasures or Honours of the world whereof she might have her hands full choke the good seed of Gods word in her but still she kept the best room of her heart free for Christ and heavenly things Many of my reverend brethren have of late years born publick testimony to the Truth of Christ I take this occasion to give in my testimony to the Truth of his grace maintained and manifested to the last in this blessed Saint Though Paul tells us that not many wise not many mighty not many rich not many Noble are chosen and called yet one such at least was in this little Parish whiles she continued among us who gloried more in the Lord than in riches or honour or all worldly enjoyments and I hope some yet remain among us looking towards Christ and heaven much provoked thereunto and bettered by her example Another motive that induced me hereunto was an earnest inclination in my spirit to testifie that honourable respect that I did bear towards her I am not afraid to tell the world that she was a Gentle-woman whom I did as much honour and as highly esteem as any one living of her sex and quality in regard of the vertues and graces which I observed shining forth in her carriage whereby she did very much beautifie and adorn her profession of Religion I find Matth. 26.13 that our Saviour takes care that a Memorial of Maries Piety Beneficence towards him in anointing his head and feet with precious Oyntment Joh. 12.3 might be published and perpetuated in after-ages and I am much emboldned by that instance of Christ to take some care that this Maries Memorial also who delighted to sit at Christs feet and hear his word and who often anointed his head with the sweet Oyntment of Piety and Devotion glorifying him as God and his feet with the Oyntment of Charity and Compassion relieving his poor Members and so ministring to Christ of her substance may be published and transmitted to posterity In hope also that the Readers hereof may through the blessing of God be edified and provoked to walk in the way to eternal life and follow after righteousnesse so as they also may have hope in their death I have adventured to commit this Sermon to publick view to give people warning not to go on in their sins lest they be driven away in their wickednesse nor to content themselves with the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees lest they come short of the Kingdom of Heaven nor to rest in a bare groundlesse lazie conjectural Hope lest their hope make them ashamed and exhorting them to use all diligence to make their calling and election sure by making sure their interest in Christ by faith considering that such as are without Christ are without hope Ephes 2.12 whereas such as have Christ framed in them have learned a rich and glorious mystery Christ in us being the hope of glory Col. 1.27 For if with Paul we resolve endeavour that Christ shall be magnified by us whether by life or death he will be unto us both in life and death advantage Phil. 1.20 21. And when Christ who is our life shall appear we shall also appear with him in glory Col. 3.4 I shall not trouble you further with any Apology for my boldnesse in mentioning your names and addressing my self to you in the Dedication hereof assuring you it is not with any desire or intent to revive or encrease your sorrow or aggravate your grief who had the greatest share in that great losse which we have of late sustained but rather to asswage and allay it by minding you of that great gain and advantage which she hath gotten by death Our Saviour tells his Disciples when comfortlesse at the thought of his departure from them If ye loved me ye would rejoyce because I go unto the Father John 14.28 I know you loved her dearly as a dutifull Childe to you her Parents and as a tender affectionate faithfull spouse and true Christian yoke-fellow to you her Husband let your love to her be now expressed rather in rejoycing that she is gone to her heavenly Father that she is at rest in the bosom of her Spiritual Bridegroom than in mourning for her departure from 〈…〉 of this Vale of misceries considering that to be with Christ is far better and in the presence of her heavenly relations she may enjoy fulnesse of blisse and pleasures for ever more If the Poet spake truth when he said Solamen miseris socios habuisse doloris That it 's a comfort to the afflicted to have companions of their grief you may take some comfort in considering you had many who did sympathize and condole with you at her death yea very many of the Children of Sion did mourn and make bitter lamentation so that
this place was a Bochim Judg. 2.5 yea as Hadadrimmon in the Valley of Megiddon where the Inhabitants of Iudah and Ierusalem mourned for the death of Iosiah Zach. 12.11 2 Chron. 35.25 I dare say there hath not been a Gentle-woman living in this County so few years whose death hath been more generally bewailed and lamented over all Sussex But I know you make use of better considerations and grounds of comfort than this And that you are throughly apprehensive of the Lords hand in this sad stroke whose will hath been done by him in this event and quiet submission of our wills to his ought to be yielded by us the examples of Aaron Levit. 10.3 4. of Eli 1 Sam. 3.18 of David 2 Sam. 15.26 and of Iob 1.21 are worthy of your observation and imitation herein The Lord knows how to cause all things to work together for good unto his people and he is the God of all comforts who can comfort you in all your tribulations and fill your hearts with joy and peace in believing so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Ghost that Christ may be in you the hope of glorie and that his love being shed abroad in your hearts by his spirit given unto you you also may have hope in your death Thus prayeth Glynde October 4. 1656. Your Honours Humbly devoted to serve you in all Gospel-duties Zachary Smith LIFE in DEATH OR The living hope of a dying Saint Proverbs 14.34 The righteous hath hope in his death IN this verse Solomon shews the different state and contrary condition of the righteous and the wicked 1 of the good and bad of such as fear God and such as fear him not when they come to die and that in two distinct Propositions 1. The wicked is driven away in his wickednesse as Chaffe driven away by the winde Ps 1.4 2. The Righteous hath Hope in his Death I shall insist onely upon this latter Proposition as the Doctrine to be handled at present and speak something of the former when we come to make Application The Righteous hath hope in his death IN handling this Point these Particulars are to be considered 1. Who is to be understood by the subject of this Hope here spoken of The Righteous 2. What is here affirmed of the Righteous hath Hope where consider 1. the Nature of this Hope 2. the Object of it 3. When the time of actuating this Grace in his Death 4. Proofs that it is so 5. Grounds and Reasons why it is so and then Apply it The Righteous who is he 1. Who The righteous is sometimes understood Civilly Morally for one that is just in his dealings with men sometimes 2. Theologically for one that orders the whole course of his life according to the will of God which is the rule of righteousnesse So again in a Scripture-sence one may be said to be righteous 1. Legally so Adam was righteous before the fall Eccles 7.29 and Christ since a righteout branch Jer. 23.5 who sulfilled all righteousnesse and is called the Sun of righteousnesse Mal. 4.2 Rom 3.10 but none else among the Children of men can be said of themselves to be perfectly righteous according to the righteousnesse of the Law 2. Evangelically righteous so believers are said to be righteous in regard of a twosold righteousnesse 1. of Justification 2. of Sanctification the former by imputation the latter by infesion and inchoation Rom. 10.4 Christ is the end of the Law for righteousnesse to every one that believeth Rom. 4.5 6. To him that worketh not but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly his faith is counted for righteousnesse Even as David also describeth the blessednesse of the man unto whom God imputeth righteousnesse without works This is that righteousnesse which Paul so highly esteemed and desired to partake of Phil. 3.9 the righteousnesse which is of God by faith Believers are also made partakers of inherent righteousnesse by the infusion of sanctifying Graces into their hearts and the renuing of the holy Ghost Act. 15.9 purifying their hearts by faith and thus they that were unrighteous may become righteous 1 Cor. 6.9 11. Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the Kingdom of God And such were some of you but ye are washed but ye are sanctified but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the spirit of our God so they are said to be righteous who walk in their unrightnes Isa 57.1 2. Job 27.5 6. till I die I will not remove my integrity from me my righteousnesse I hold fast will not let it go Tit. 2.12 so that by the righteous in the Text we are to upderstand such as believing in Christ walk uprightly doing just and righteous things though impersectly 1 Joh. 3.7 he that doth righteousnesse is righteous thus Noah is said to have been a just man and perfect or upright in his generation walking with God Gen. 6.9 and God gave him this testimony Gen. 7.1 Thee have I found righteous before me What what is here affirmed of the Righteous 2. He hath Hope here consider 1. the nature of Hope 2ly the object of his Hope Hope in commonspeech signifies a bare likelyhood a probable conjecture a groundlesse fancy but in scripture phrase an undoubted certainty Hope is a patient expectation of the accomplishment of that good whereof we receive assurance by faith Rom. 8.24 25. We are saved by hope but hope that is seen is not hope for what a man seeth why doth be yet hope for But if we hope for that we see hot then doe we with patience waite for it Gal. 5.5 we through the spirit waite for the hope of righteousnes by faith There is the Hope of the Hypocrite 1. and the hope of the Righteous Job 8.13.14 Bildad tells Job the hypocrites hope shall perish whose hope shall be cut off and whose trust shall be a spiders web First the object of his hope shall fail him i.e. those benefits blessings accommodations and comforts which he looked for in the Profession of Religion these shall fail him and prove false hopes He shall not enioy the things hoped for Secondly the Act of his Hope shall fail his hope shall die being so long deferred Hypocrites may be full of hope for a time but their Hope will deceive them at last and to lose our Hope is the Utmost of Evills Mr. Caryl on Job 8.13 14. as Mr. Caryll well observes on Job 8.13 14. All that an hypocrite hopeth for or expects shall be utterly taken away and cut off from him his worldly comforts will be gon and heavenly comforts will never come he shall finde that he hath been in a golden dream as one that is hungry who dreames that he is eating but when he awaketh his Soul is empty Job 27.8 What is the Hope of the hypocrite though he hath gained when God taketh away his soule Their hope is a groundlesse
fancy whereby they expect some good but have no warrant for it presuming that all is well with them and that God will take them to himself and shew them mercy when they die though they regarded not to take the Lord for their Portion nor his word for their guide while they lived Sperando pereunt a livelesse lazy conceit building castles in the aire casting Anchor among Quicksands their hope will make them ashamed There is the Hope of the Righteous upright 2. Christian Hope which is an undoubted expectationof all promised good things to come being freely given us of God through Jesus Christ Heb. 6.18 19. that we might have strong consolation who have fled for Refuge to lay hold on the hope set before us which Hope we have as an Anchor of the soule sure and stedfast and which entreth into that within the vaile Hath Hope Tremelius renders it thus Recipit se etiam in morte sua justus with this annotation upon it Recipit se à malo adeo vt ne mors quidem ipsa sit ipsi mala i.e. He recovers and delivers himself from evil so that Death it self cannot be evil or hurtfull to him so Mr. Cleaver explains it The righteous hath not only confidence and good expectation but refuge and deliverance in greatest extremities yea in the very danger and torment of death it self yea then especially and more than ever at any time before The Object of the Righteous persons Hope is God himself Ps 39.7 And now Lord what wait I for my hope is in thee 1. Tim. 1.1 And Lord Jesus Christ which is our hope Ier. 14.8 Ier. 17.18 And all those future good things which God hath graciously promised in his word both for soul and body Col. 1.5 for the hope which is laid up for you in heaven vers 27. Christ in you the hope of Glory Titus 1.2 In hope of eternall life which God that cannot lie promised before the world began Tit. 3.7 that being justified by his grace we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternall life The Hope of a Christian is in another world no man hath better surer greater hopes than a Christian a Worldlings Motto is a Bird in the hand but a Christians is spero meliora I hope for better things The Philosopher could say Tolle coelum nullus ero Much better and surer ground hath a true Christian to reioice in hope of the glory of God and to glory in tribulation for the hope that is laid up in heaven for him which hope maketh not ashamed Rom. 5.2 3 5. Pro. 10.28 The hope of the righteous shall be gladnes but the expectation of the wicked shall perish yea when the hope of the wicked shall be cut off then shall the righteous have a vigorous lively or a living hope 1 Pet 3. an hope that shall not fail even in death they have hope of life and by death they come to be partakers of the object of their Hope and so I come to the 3. particular When. 3. When. The time when the Righteous hath hope in his Death in the evil day in time of greatest disconsolation when friends stand weeping and wringing their hands when speech sight senses strength fail when riches will not profit a man when Physicians are of no value when all Creatures prove miserable comforters and when all human helps fail then is a Christians soule full of hope and may comfortably use this motto spero meliora though I leave a faire house pleasant gardens and loving friends and deare Relations yet I hope to enioy and inhabit an house not made with hands eternall in the heavens whose builder is God to dwell with my heavenly father in his Mansion house I hope to enioy better friends more deare Relations Communion with such as are of a more holy society I hope now by death to come unto Mount Sion and unto the City of the living God the heavenly Jerusalem and to an innumerable company of Angels To the Generall Assembly and Church of the first-born which are written in heaven and to God the Iudge of all and to the spirits of just men made perfect And to Jesus the Mediatour of the New Covenant Heb. 12.22 23 24. 4 Proofs To prove that the Righteous i e. true beleivers who walke uprightly following after Righteousnes have this Hope in their Death consider some testimonies of scripture and some examples Isa 57.1 2. The righteous perisheth and no man layeth it to heart and mercifull men are taken away none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come He shall enter into peace they shall rest in their beds each one walking in his uprightnes Where we have a sad complaint of the Cursed security of most people not regarding nor laying to heart the sad tokens of Gods displeasure nor their own danger approaching threatned by the Lords taking away his righteous servants from among them and secondly a Relation of the blessed security happy estate of Gods people at and after their death however they may seeme to perish from the earth yet they are taken away from the evil to come and enter into peace c. The Lord in that Scripture gives us a Description and Character of his own people and of Others of worldlings that lived among them His own people are described 1. By their Disposition and behaviour while they live here 1. Righteous 2. Mercifull 3. Walking in uprightnes as Micah 6.8 2. By their state and condition at and after Death 1. They are taken from the evil to come 2. They enter into peace 3. They rest in their beds The Description of worldlings and carnall people that lived among them by their disposition and behaviour is partly in the end of the former chapter eagerly and inordinately pursuing worldly profits and sensuall pleasures presuming upon long life and plenty c. 56.11 12. and in the first verse of this chapter they are said to be inconsiderat senselesse stupid dead-hearted not laying things to heart not regarding to heare the rod and who hath appointed it nor to behold the Majesty of the Lord when his hand is lifted up Their Dangerous state and condition when Gods servants are taken away from among them is there also hinted at it s a sad omen and forerunner of evil coming upon them That which I specially quoted this foregoing scripture for was to prove that the Righteous have hope in their death and here it is cleerely and fully affirmed that by death they are taken from the evil to come and enter into a state of blessed peace and sweet security Another proofe here of is Revelation 14.13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto mee write Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth yea saith the spirit that they may rest from their labours and their works doe follow them This testimony John received by a voice from heaven and
death that his dead body shall be again united to his Soul and 3. raised up in glory 1. Cor. 15.43 Yea our vile bodies shall then be changed and fashioned like unto the glorious body of Christ Phil. 3.21 Col. 3.4 The Glory of beleivers bodies at the Resurrection will appear in these 5. particulars 1. They will be perfect and entire in regard of Parts limbs or senses however they might be maimed or defective before 2. They will be faire beautifull and illustrious full of splendour and brightnes what ever blemishes or deformityes they were disfigured withall before Matth. 13.43 then shall the Righteous shine forth as the sunne in the Kingdom of their Father The most beautifull body on earth is but like Carrion sullyed with smoke and foot in respect of the glorified body of poor Lazarus at that day 3. They shall be immortall i.e. in such a condition that they can never die again This mortall shall put on immortallity and so Death shall be swallowed up in victory 1. Cor. 15.53 54. 4. Incorruptible i.e. not only free from putrefaction but also from all weaknes both of infirmity and deformity such as cannot again be corrupted with sinne Now our bodies are corruptible and so mutable subject to manifold infirmityes but then they shall be strong and powerfull 1. Cor. 15.42 43. It is sown in corruption it is raised in incorruption it is sown in weaknesse it is raised in power 5. Spirituall Bodies not that our bodies shall vanish into Ghosts or spirits but they shall be so admirably glorifyed and perfected that they shall be able to subsist without meat drinke physike sleepe c. wherewith naturall bodies are sustained Rev. 7.16 they shall hunger no more nor thirst any more Matth. 22.30 This hope of a glorious Resurrection of his Body at the latter day comforted and refreshed Jobs spirit in the depth of his misery under Bodily boiles and distempers and all his other pressures This was an Article of that Christian faith which he made Confession of Job 19.25 26 27. Thus have I proved and cleared the truth of this Doctrinall Proposition viz The Righteous hath hope in his Death I shall proceed now to lay down some Reasons and Grounds hereof Reasons Reason Because the Lord hath made many rich and precious Promises to the Righteous concerning the life to come as well as for this life 1. Tim. 4.8 Godlines is profitable unto all things having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come Beleivers have heard of future good things promised in the Gospell to be bestowed upon them after this life and this is a ground of their hope in death Psal 130.5 I wait for the Lord my Soul doth wait and in his Word doe I hope Paul speaking of the fruits of faith and love which abounded among the Colossians mentions a motive whereby they were incited and provoked thereunto Col. 1.5 for the hope which is laid up for you in heaven i.e. for those glorious things which your hope assureth you are laid up for you in heaven Hope being there taken by a Metonymy for the thing hoped for But how came they to hope that there were good things laid up for them in heaven He shews the ground of their hope in the next words to be the Word of God whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the Gospell so Titus 1.2 In hope of eternall life which God that cannot lye promised before the world began but hath in due time manifested his word through preaching Beleivers are heirs of promise unto whom God being abundantly willing to shew the immutability of his Counsell confirmed it by an oath that by two immutable things in which it was impossible for God to lye we might have strong consolation who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us 2. Reas Because of Christs Resurrection from the dead 1. Cor. 15.17 18 19 20. if Christ be not raised then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished if in this life only we have hope in Christ we are of all men most miserable but now is Christ risen from the dead and become the first fruits of them that slept Christs Resurrection is a pledge of ours hence Peters Benediction 1. Pet. 1.3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead i.e. confirmed in us a living hope or hope of life in and after death by the Resurrection of Jesus Christ because God raised him up that we might believe and hope in God for our Resurrection unto Glory Vers 21. 3. Reas Because of Christs Ascension Heb. 6.19 20. which hope we have as an Anchor of the Soul both sure and stedfast and which entreth into that within the vail whither the forerunner is for us entred even Jesus Hope is as the Anchor cast out of the ship on firm ground when tossed and driven with winde and waves this anchor of the Soul is cast within heaven though a believer be yet as a ship at sea tossed with troubles and tempations in this world yet all is safe the soul is sure the anchor of hope being cast within heaven taking hold on Christ the rocke of our salvation who is entred and ascended into heaven as our fore-runner to prepare mansions for us Job 14.2 3. 4. Reas Taken from Christs Intercession that is another ground of a believers hope in death Joh. 17.24 Father I will that they also whom thou hast given me be with me where I am that they may behold my Glory which thou hast given me Christ having prayed that believers may be with him in eternall Glory and happines after death they have good ground to hope and expect that they shall be with him and behold his Glory for the Father heareth him alwayes and never denies him in any suit that he makes in the behalf of his People Joh. 11.42 5. Reas Because God hath not only delivered up his Son Christ to die for them and to purchase life and salvation for them but hath also given Christ unto them and revealed and framed him in them and given them his spirit as an earnest in their hearts 2. Cor. 1.22 whereby God assures them that he will pay as it were the whole sum of his promises for an earnest is as a pledge whereby we confirm a bargain or a peice of money whereby we assure the payment of the whole the first gift therefore of the spirit and of life is a pledge of their whole inheritance which they hope to enioy after death so Ephes 1.13 14. Col. 1.27 Christ in you the hope of Glory and Rom. 5.5 Hope maketh not ashamed because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the holy Ghost which is given unto us yea the experience of Gods goodnes and
not fret nor envy at the prosperity of the ungodly nor repine at their own present adversity but wait patiently on the Lord and humble themselves under his potent hand and he will exalt them in due time Isa 3.10 say to the righteous that it shall be well with him for they shall eat the fruit of their doings woe unto the wicked it shall be ill with him for the reward of his hands shall be given him I shall add a word of counsel to them before I proceed and it shall be such as Daniel gave to Nebuchadnezzar after he had considered of his dream and given the interpretation that they shall drive thee from men and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field Dan. 4.25 he adviseth him in these words vers 27. wherefore O King let my counsel be acceptable to thee and break off thy sins by righteousnesse and thine iniquities by shewing mercy to the poor if it may be a lengthning of thy tranquillity So say I that ye may not be driven away in your wickednesse from men by death and that your dwelling may not be with worse company than the beasts of the field even with Devils in Hell let my counsel be acceptable to you Drive away your sins and Sathans suggestions as Abraham did the Birds Fowles from his Sacrifices Gen. 15.11 yea ferret out and chase away all your lusts those factors for Sathan out of your hearts as our Saviour drove all those Chap-men out of the Temple Ioh. 2.15 or in the words of Ezekiel cap. 18.30 31. Repent and turn your selves from all your transgressions so iniquity shall not be your ruine cast away from you all your transgressions whereby you have transgressed for why will ye die Yea why will ye die without hope by dying in sin The Lord hath no pleasure in the death of him that dieth wherefore turn your selves and live ye there is yet hope in Israel concerning the Remission of your sins and the salvation of your Souls if ye harden not your hearts but hearken to the Lords voice whiles it is called to day But lest any that seem to be righteous in their own eyes and full of hopes should be deceived and frustrated of their expectation when they come to die it will be requisite that we proceed to another Use Use 3. 3. Use Of Tryal and Examination both of our Hope and of our Righteousnesse Most men feed themselves with Hope now while they are at ease in health and while they live peaceably and securely but it s an harder thing to have hope in our death when we come to die when our consciences are awakened and our sins with all their aggravations come fresh into our mindes then many are full of perplexity and horrour as Pope Adrian who cried out Animula vagula blandula qua nunc abibis in loca Ah poor silly Soul whither art thou now going and that Emperour Dubius vixi anxius morior nescio quo vadam I lived doubting I die perplexed and know not what will become of me after death But there may be carnal presumption or a meer groundlesse conjecture which some may be mistaken in as if it were true sound hope Therefore try 1. Trials Hast ever been hopelesse in thy life and in a despairing condition in thy self in regard of thy sin and misery Wert ever convinced of thy corrupt and cursed estate by reason of sin and of the insufficiency of all thy own duties and performances and how helplesse all Creatures will be found towards thy relief Rom. 7.9.10 11. Paul was alive without the Law once but when the Commandment came sin revived and Paul died c. He thought himself in a good condition and had hope in himself before the Law was brought home to his conscience he knew not his malady but thought himself fish-whole and in a safe way though he pursued his lusts till he was spiritually inlightned and saw that the Law of God forbids and condemnes lust and the first motions of evil concupiscence Hast thou been throughly convinced and humbled so as to disclaim and renounce all confidence in the flesh as Phil. 3.3 hast thou laid thy mouth in the dust Lam. 3.26 29. It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord but the way hereunto is by sitting alone and keeping silence and by putting his mouth in the dust he putteth his mouth in the dust if so be there may be hope Gracious hope is seated in a broken heart 2. Is Christ in you Col. 1.27 Christ in you the hope of glorie while people are without Christ they are without hope Ephes 2.12 Is Christ thy life The principle of thy life The pattern of thy life the scope and end of thy life If so thou mayest well hope to appear with him in glorie Col 3.4 3. Art thou Evangelically righteous walking in thy uprightnesse and integrity following after righteousnesse Godlinesse having respect to all Gods Commandments Without which thou mayest come short of laying hold of eternal life 1 Tim. 6.11 12. Psalm 15. Isa 33.15 16 17. he that walketh righteously and speaketh uprightly he shall dwell on high thine eyes shall see the King in his beauty It s onely the righteous who hath hope in his death it s called the hope of righteousnesse every one that hath this hope purifieth himself 4. Dost thou patiently wait for what thou hopest to enjoy Rom. 8.25 if we hope for what we see not then do we with patience wait for it as faith is the Root of Hope so patience is the fruit of it It s the nature of hope to breed patience if we hope for life hereafter we must be patient till we possesse it Hope is a grace of God whereby we expect good to come patiently waiting till it come or a certain expectation of eternal life with patience The Merchant in hope or gain endures the water The husbandman in hope of a plentifull Crop at Harvest endures the cold and the wet He waiteth and hath long patience for it Iam. 5.7 8. Iob 14.14 all the dayes of my appointed time will I wait till my change come Heb. 10.34 36. The Christian Jews took joyfully the spoiling of their goods knowing in themselves that in Heaven they had a better and an enduring substance and the Apostle tells them they had need of patience that after they had done the will of God they might receive the promise Rom. 12.12 such as rejoyce in hope are patient in tribulation 5. Is thy hope lively active vigorous to put thee upon mortifying thy corruptions purifying thy heart and life Doth it produce Gospel-fruits and provoke thee to be zealous of good works 1 Pet. 1.3 it s called a lively hope or a living hope every one that hath this hope purifieth himself even as he is pure 1 Joh. 3.3 All that rightly hope for salvation by Christ besides the righteousnesse imputed by God