theâ— But God tels them v. 18. That he would disaâ—â—ull their Covenant for the Lord bringeth the counsell of the heathen to â—ought and maketh the devises of the people of none â—ffect 2. Mans sin hath deserved it Gen. 2. 17. In the day thou â—â—test thereof thou shalt surely die Rom. 5 12. As by one man sin â—ntred into the world and death by sin so death passed upon all men for that all have sinned Rom 6. 23. 1 Cor. 15. 22. As in Adâ—m all die i. sin and death came upon all men 3. Man in his nature is mortall and corruptable as the Trees as therefore these however some of them as Oaks and the like live longer then others yet do all of them in time by age wither and die and none of them live for ever because they are of a dying nature so it is with men though some of them live longer then others yet experience shews uâ— that they all dye at one time or other Eccles 6. 6. 7. Though â—e live a thousand year◠〈◊〉 Do not all go to one place 4. Unlesse the body die it cannot be capable of that state to which it is ordained For the wicked man must have such a body as is fitted everlastingly to burn without consumption and the godly man must have such a body as is capable of the everlasting enjoyment of the glory of heaven which the present body cannot doe As therefore the seed which is â—own is not quickened unlesse it die so unlesse these bodies of the Saints die they cannot have those new bodies prepared for them which are bodies with new qualities 1 Cor. 15. 37 39 40 c. It is â—own in corruption it is raised in incorruption it is sowâ— in dishonour raised in glory sown in weaknesse raised in power sown a naturall raised a spirituall bodie The bodies of the Saints shall be then sound and of a nature that cannot corrupt glorious and comâ—ly without any deformity powerfull that is able to continue without the humane helps of meat drink and cloths without which they cannot new be kept they must put off their old ragged cloths of mortality if ever they mean to put on the princely â—obes of immortality and life 2. And thus God will have it and his providence hath disposed of it for the manifestation of his own glory the glory of his Justice in the punishment of mans sin the glory of his Truth in making good his word and the glory of his power in the resurrection of the bodies of men Io. 9. 3. 11. 39 40. It is needfull that we answer one objection ere we go further If death be Object the wages of sin and Christ hath given satisfaction for the sins of his people how comes it to passe that they die To this we answer 1. This objection may be made against all the afflictions Answer of Gods people 2. Christ never promised by his Word nor intended by his Death to free his people from afflictions and so from death but fâ—om the evill and hurt thereof onely and so he doth free his people from death insomuch as it is not now a curse but a blessing a token of Gods love and means of mans good Christ as he took not away sin it self but the guilt thereof so he took not away death it self but the sting thereof Revel 14. 13. Rom. 8. 28. Hebr. 12. verse 8. 10. Revel 3. verse 19. 1 Corinth 15 〈◊〉 56. If any man shall ask now when he must die We must answer him that we know not when for as there is nothing in iuest Qâ—â— Answer the world more certain then death so there is nothing more uncertain then the time when men shall die this God hath kept in his owne hands This only is certain that at the longest it will not be long for mans age is but short Psal 9. 5. As a hand breadth and as nothing before God Iob 14. 1 2. Man that is borne of a woman is of â—ew dayes c. He commeth forth like a flower and is cut downe He fleeth also as a shaddow and continueth not Psal 102. 11. 03. 15. 144. 4. Psal 89 47. Remember how short my time is Iob 7. 6 7. 20. 16. 22. Iam. 4 14. Esay 48 6. All flesh is grasse Psal 90 10. Isa man liâ—â— to 〈◊〉 or by reason of strength to 80. yet is it soone cut of and we 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And how much of this in thy life is spent already But perhaps thou mayest not live out halfe thy dayes for men like sheep die of all ages Psalm 55. 23 and this doth commonly fall out that the longer men think to live the lesse while they have to live 1 Thes 5. 3. Luke 12. â— 20. This pâ—ynt being cleared let us now see what use may be made of it Vse 1 And first it may serve us for exhortation to divers things and this two wayes First as having reference to our owne death Secondly as having reference to the death of others As having reference to our owne death it doth serve to exhort and perswade us to these things First to beleeve it let us beleeve it that we must die and that of all this world of men women and children now alive there will not after a few yeares one be left Scarcely will a man beleeve that seeth a great apple-tree thick of clusters that ever these will fall one by one and yet being ripe how soone will they be all dropt downe and gone So it is of men one generation passeth and another commeth Eccles. 1. 4. Secondly to think of it let us meditate and consider of this that we must die For however it may be thought a vaine and needlesse perswasion to perswade men to beleeve and think they shall die and every man will be ready to say he doth beleeve this and it is never out of his thought and who doth not so Yet it is more then manifest by most mens lives that they doe not so For doth that man that taketh nothing about him to defend him against â—oule weather beleeve he shall meet with it in his journey Doth he that makes no provision for a new beleeve he shall shortly be put out of his old house Doth he beleeve he must shortly put of his old that makes no provision for new cloathes Doth the Thâ—â—fe or Murderer beleeve there is a Prison and Gallâ—wes for Theeâ—es and Murderers whilst he doth kill or steale Or doth that Servant while he wasteth or spoileth his Masters goods or abuseth his follow Servants thinke of his Masters comming to call him to an account Nor doth he that neglecteth all the care of provision for another life thinke of it that he must shortly goe out of this life Can it be that the profane Scorner cruell Oppressor licentious Epicure or sâ—â—â—re Libertine should be perswaded that he must shortly die and after death come to judgement Hath he not rather with them in Esay 28. 15. made
with looking after the Mat. 24. 12. things which are comming on the world yet iniquity doth abound and the whole Earth seemeth to be filled with Gen. 6. 11. violence and wickednes and most men live as if there were neither God nor Devil Heaven nor Hell It is true these things are continually sounding in our ears and is it not as true and wo and alas that it is so they do for the most part as soon passe through the ears of the hearer as from the mouth of the speakerâ— Whence Vox audita perit Amos 6. 3. else is it that wicked men approach to the seat of iniquity but that they put far from them the evill day Whence is it that they cry peace peace and sing a requiem to their Souls with the fool in the gospel but 1 Thess 5. 3. 2. that they forget that sudden destruction is at hand and Luk. 12. 19 20 this night their soules may bee taken from themâ— whence is it that good mens hearts shake so at the present Heb. â—2 27. â—8 shaking of things in the world but that they have forgotten the Kingdome that cannot be shakenâ— whence is it that the good and bad both slumber and watch not but that they have forgotten that the comming of the Lord is nigh and he will come as a Mat. 25. 1 2 3 c. Thief in the night And whence is it thaâ— there is such an overflowing of sin in the world but from hence that men think not enough of these things For the prevention and cure therefore of these epidemicall evils I have gathered and bound up together these heavenly truths as medicine made of many ingredients and give it you in writing And oh that now we could perswade you to turn aside from youâ—â—ageâ— Litera Scripta manet pursuit of earthly things and come and see what it is and try what it wiâ—l do And for this may we prevail with you to look into them and keep them as a signe upon your hands as fronâ—â—eâ—s between your eyes that you will write them on the posts of your houses and your gates or rather on the tables of your hearts that they being ever in your sight may be never out of Deut. 6. 6 7 8. your minde Remember and forget not that very shortly the grieâ—ly Serjeant Deaâ—h will aâ— rest you and clap you up in the Prison of the grave where you shal by and by heare the dreadfull voâ—ce of the last Tâ—umpâ— crying a wake ye dead and come to judgment look sometimes in at Hâ—ll gates and think of the wrath to come and at other times take a view of the Heavenly Canaan and walk a turn or two in the Paradice of God If the thought of one of these how much more shall the thought of them all make us apply our hearts to wisdome Thâ—se thoughts wâ—ll 〈◊〉 lesse much settle the hearts of Saint in this shaking time 1 Cor 15. 31. Psal 1. 1. 5. Mat. â— 15. Col. 1. 12. Deut 32. 39. make them active for God careful to 〈◊〉 their 〈◊〉 so that they may be alwayes ready to dye able to stand in the Judgment sure to escape the damnation of Hell and to be made meet for the inheritance of the Saints in heaven And oh that men were thus wise to understand this to consider their latter end Thy Christian friend W. S. Of the foure last and great things Death Judgement Heaven and Hell and the things that concern the same Of Death DOCTRINE All men must die or There is an unavoidable necessity of dying laid upon all men Hebr. 9. 27. It is appointed to men once to die Psal â—9 48. What man is he that liveth and shall not see death not a man Eccles 6. 6. Doe not all go to one place Job 30. 23. I know thou wiâ—â— bring me to death and to the house appointed for all living FOr the opening of this point we must say something to these three things First what this death whereof we speak is Secondly What necessity there is that all men must die this death Thirdly Wherefore this necessity is imposed upon mankinde and wherefore it is so For the first By death here we mean not the privation of our communion with God or the separation of soul and body from Gods favour in this world which is caused by sin and is called an alienation from the life of God or the second death or spirituall death Luke 1. 79. Ephes 2. 1 2 4. 18. or the separation of the whole man from Gods heavenly presence and glory to be punished with everlasting fire in Hell called eternall death or the perdition of soul and body in Hell or the second death And this is proper onely to wicked men and cannot touch the godly Rom. 6. 23. Revel 20. 6. 4. Rom. 8. 6. 2 Thess 1. 9. Matth. 10. 28. Rev. 2. 11. But by death in this place we intend the privation of the life of the body or the separation of the soul from the body for sin or the change of this mortall for an immortall life And this is called a bodily or worldly death or the first death And this death is common to all men good and bad Heb. 9. 27. 1 Cor. 15. 32. Gen. 5. 24. 35. This death is either naturall i. when a man liveth out his full daies and then dieth or violent i. when a mans death is hastened by some violent accident that a man doth kill himself or is killed by another Also it is said to be common and ordinary when it is by an ordinary or usual means or extraordinary when it is by some strange or unusuall mâ—ans Numb 16. 29. 〈◊〉 The necessity we here speak of is not absolute but limitâ—ed to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 For he may if he please dispense with his own Law and the penalty thereof and exempt some men from this common lot of mankind as once 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 who is said to be translated that he did not 〈◊〉 death Hebr. 11. 5. Gen. 5. 24. so afterwards Eliâ—h 2 Kings 2. 11. and as again he will do with those which shall be a live at Christs comming to judgement 1 Thess 4. 17. 1 Cor. 15. 51. Wâ— shall not all sleep but we shall all be changed But in an ordinary way God hath appointed to all men once to die and to this law of the King of Kings must all men young and old rich and poor without difference of necessity submit For the third thing 1. That it is so and must be so that all men must die these reasons may be given for it 1 God in his eternall counsell hath decreed it Heb. 9. 27. It is appointed to men once to die And his counsell standeth fast for ever and the thoughts of his heart unto all generations Psal 33. 11. Esay 46. 10. We read in â—say 28. 15. of some that had made a Covenant with death That it should not come â—igh
14. 7 8. 5. And we are then like the Swan to endeavour to sing sweetest by our devout prayers and praises to God and gratious speeches to men So Iacob Gen. 49. David 2 Sam. 23 Christ Luke 23. 34. Stephen Acts 〈◊〉 56. Isaac Heb. 11. 22. Iob. Iob. 1. 21. we shall say somewhat more to this pâ—â—nt in the next branch which we are now to descend unto 4. The fourth thing we are to be exhorted unto from this doctrine of the necessity of dying is to make a virtue of this necessity and not to fear death but when we see our time is come to die let us resolutely patiently and willingly undergo â—t A naturall and moderate fear of it as it is an Enemy to nature 〈◊〉 be chaâ—ged as an evill upon us being no other but what was in the 〈◊〉 hâ—â—rt of Christ Jesus but an immoderate afflicting distracting fear of it is to be avoyded of all Christians And for the Cure hereof and our further fitting for death let us be well instructed in the nature thereof to a beleever as it is set forth in the Gospell wherein we have these considerations 1. That there is a necessity of it and it cannot be avoyded Psal 49. 7. 2. It is sanctiâ—ed and sweetned by Christs death so as it is not now a curse but a blessing a passage a departure a change of roomes a going out of a worse place into a better 3. Assoon as the body goeth out of this world it goeth to a place of rest where it shall be troubled no more and then Gods Covenant of peace shall be made good to it And to speak properly the beleeving Christian doth not die he lyeth down to sleep in his bed for his death is but the bodies going to bed and to sleep after the many labours of the day of this life are ended out of which he shall awake after the night of death is past at the morning of the râ—surrection to everlasting life and no sâ—oner is the soule out of the body then it is in possession thereof Esay 57. 2 3. The righteous are taken away c. he shall enter into peace they shall rest in their beds c. 2 King 32. 20. Thou shal s be gathered to thy fathers inâ—eace Matt. 9. 24. Acts 7. 60. He fell asleepe 4. The body by death is not reduced to nothing as the body of a beaâ—t is but it is only resolved to earth again where the â—otting of it is only to refine it that as the Corne which first diâ—â—h it may arise more glorious 1 Cor. 15. 36. Gen. 3. 19. So that death to the Saints is neither totall but of the body only nor perpetuall but for a time only Rom. 8. 10. 5. God is as much the God of the dead as of the living beleever Mat. 22. 34. God is not the God of the dead but of the living i. his Covenant is with them to make them happy in communicating to them grace life and glory and this Covenant is with the body as well as with the soul Rom. 14. 8. Whether we live or die we are the Lords 6. The body and soul of a beleever notwithstanding the death of the body is still a member of Christ Ephe. 5. 30. Rom. 14. 8. Death devides us not from God but brings us home to him 7. God hath the power of death and the grave and his providence doth dispose thereof and of everything therein and he will be with the beleever in this estate to support him under and deliver him out of it and to turn it to his good and he wâ—â— not leave him till he hath settled his soul and body in heaven Rev. 18. I have the Keyes of Hell and Death i. power to keep from or deliver to death Iude verse 9. Acts 4. 28. Psalm 16. 10. 11. Thou wiâ—â— not leave my Soule in grave nor suffer thiâ—â— holy one to see corruption Heb. 2. 14 15. Acts 2. 24. Psalm 116. 15. The death of his Saints is pretious to him 1. either God will preserve them from wicked hands or will sharply revenge their death on them that kill them Acts 20. 24. 2 Kings 1. 13. Psal 72. 14. 8. The death of the beleever cannot seperate his soul from Christs love to it or its love to Christ Iohn 11. 5. 20. 3. 1. Rom. 8. 38. 39. What shall sepâ—rate us from the love of Christ Shall death c. 9. Death reacheth to the body only and not to the soul Mat. 10. 28. Feare not them which kill the body but are not able to kill the Soule c. 10. By death God requireth again of us that soul he â—â—usted us with and every honest man will willingly deliver up his trust when it is required Eocles 12. 12. 11. The sting of death is now taken away to the beleever that it cannot hurt him 1 Cor. 15. 55. Buzze it may snake whose sting â—â— pulled out 1â— The Angels will be ready to receive and carry the beleevers sould into the presence of the God of peace in Heaven Luke 16. 22. 23. Death shall be destroyed and it is the last Enemy that shall be destroyed â—evel 20 v. 14. â— Câ—rinâ—h 15. v. 26. Rev. 20. 14. 14. The body of the beleever shall be gloriously raised after death to die no more for then death shall be swallowed up into victory and body and soul united and placed in eternall felicity for the soul being loosed out of prison the body may not be kept in prison 2 Cor. â— 1. Rev. 21. 4. 20. 13. 1 Thes 4. 13. Psalm 49. 14 15 16. 8 9. 1 Cor. 15. 43. Iohn 6. 39. Rom. 8. 11. To say all in one word death to the beleever makes a happy change and doth infinitly better his condition for it â—reeth him from all evill and puts him in possession of all good It â—reeth him from the evill of sin and punâ—â—â—ment felt and feared present and to come and puts an end to all his cares fears teares labours griefs combats with sin the world and the Devill for in death he gets beyond and above them all It is a passage and going from Aegyt to Canaan out of an old rotten house wherein a man hath no estate at all into a glorious Mansion and Kingly pallace of his own inheritance the going out of a base prison to a glorious liberty the return from a banishment to his own Country and home the comming to the haven after a long and dangerous voyage by sea It is a going to bed after a man hath laboured hard all day and is â—yred and weary It is a going from corruption to incorruption from mortallity to immortallity from death to life from earth to heaven from a miserable to a happy life It is the putting off a mans old ragged Cloathes to put on princely robes It is a loosing from the shore and a lanching out into the main to take possession of a Kingdome It is the
things yet farther in some particulars As the misery of Hell so the happinesse of Heaven doth 〈◊〉 of two parts 1. in â—â—exemption and 〈◊〉 of all â—â—â—ll 2. In a fruition of all good The righteous in heaven shall be freed from all manner of evill from evill spirituall for they shall not they cannot sin that which makes the holy man here to cry out O wretched man that I am c. Rom. 7. 24. they shall be freed off the Conscience shall not be unquieted any more corporall for there shall be no more offence to the body by hunger thirst cold wearines heat â—â—ame sicknes death nothing shall annoy either soule or body it shall neither feel nor fear disturbance Otherice blessed condition that is so exceeding happy and whose happines is so infallibly secured Revel 21. 4. Esay 5. 8. It is said of this estate And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes and there shall be no more death neither sorrow nor crying neither shall there be any more pain c. And again Revel 7. 14 c. These are they which came out of great tribulation and they shall hunger no more nor thirst any more neither shall the Sun light on them nor any heat For the Lambe which is in the middest of the Throne shall feed them and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes And again Esay 57. 1 2. it is said The righteous are taken away from the evill to come He shall enter into peace they shall rest in their beds And in Matth. 11. 29. Come unto me all yee that are 〈◊〉 laden c. you shall finde rest to your Soules of this time and state it is that Christ speaks Mat. 22. 30. They neither marry nor are given in marriage but are as the Angels of God in Heaven Hebr. 4. 9. There remaineth a rest for the People of God the which was signified by the rest the Jews had in the â—â—nd 〈◊〉 Canaan Psal 95. 11. This is that also the whol creation waâ—teth for Rom. 8. 22 23. For we know that the whole Creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together till now And not onely they but our selves also which have the first fruits of the spirit 〈◊〉 we ourselves grâ—â—n within our selves waiting for the Adoption to wit for the Redemption of our body Nay then shall do 〈◊〉 self be swallowed up in victory 1 Cor. 15. 54. So that the triumphant â—oulin 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 God 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 our Lord Iesus 〈◊〉 So that here we see 〈◊〉 immunity and freedom from 〈◊〉 for Death and the 〈◊〉 shall be abolished and that last enemy shall be destroyed Coll. 3. 3. The sting of death is sin and the strength of sin is the Law Christ hath taken away the sin satisfied the Law and obtained eternall freedom for his own They are never to return into bondage oâ— to feel evill any more They are no more to come into this place for they are to dwell on high where no evill can reach them The Devil shall be shut up in chains of darknes in the prison of Hell Rom. 16. 20. no wicked persoâ— or thing shall be in Heaven for there dwelled righteousneâ—â— there shall be therefore perfect freedom without any possibility of returning to bondage The second part of the happines of heaven is in the fruition of all good corporall and spirituall and albeit this doth consist of many particulars yet all these seem to be intended and contained in those three words in Rom. 2. 10. Glory Honour and Peace in opposition to the â—â—ame Contempt and Trouble by which the misery of Hell is described The glory oâ— the Saints in Heaven 〈◊〉 wherein a part of then happines shall consist shall be in these things 1. in their bodies which being glorified shall be most beautifull and excellent either as it springs out of the blessed beauty and excellency of the soule or as it is indâ—wed with an heavenly excellency originally implanted by God in it self For the Spirit of God and glory shall thou rest aboundantly upon them 1 Pet 4. 14. The body beâ—â—â—s the freedom that it shall have from all the evils thereof as lamenes mis-shapenesse sicknes hunger nakednes wearines cold and the like it shall be gloriously endâ—wed with many positive and wonderfull excellencies as 1. Immortality for it can never possibly die 1 Corinth 15. verse 54. but it shall live as long as God doth live so that herein their condition is a thousand times more happy thâ—n it was in the state of innocency in Paradise 2. Incorruptiblenes for every glorified body shall be for evâ—r utterly impossible with any corruptive quality action or alteration and cannot be subject to any inward decay or dissolution 1 Cor. 15. 42. 54. 3. Power when to the Souls native strength there shall be an addition of glorifying vigour and Gods mighty spirits more plentifull habitation and it shall also put on a body which brings with it besides his own inherent power an exact ablenes and readines fitted to the Souls highest abilities how incredible mighty may we conceive a Saint in Heaven to be 1 Cor. 15 43. 4. Spiritualnes 1 Cor. 15. 44. The glorified body shall be more of the nature of the Spirit i. more active not needing food c. and more subject to the Spirit and be more fully possessed with the Spirit 5. Beauty and a shining amiablenes 1 Cor. 15. 43. The glorified body shall have an exquisite feature and stature a welfavoured and comly proportion and mutuall correspondency of all the parts thereof a sweet and amiable colour and a bright shining splendor of celestiall glory and a chearfull lively lightsome aspect and all this preserved in perpetuall freshnes with new supply of heavenly activenesse by a more glorious Soul yea the very nakednesse now the shame thereof shall be then the glory of it Phil. 3. 21. Who shall change our vile bodies that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious bodie A glimpse of which we have in Christs Transfiguration Matth. 17. 2 13 43 2 4 2. A second part of this glory shall be in the soul wherein 1. The understanding shall be abundantly and comfortably enlightened and enlarged to the uttermost that the creature can reach unto in all naturall things that may delight and especially in heavenly things as in Gods word the glorious misteries of the holy Trinity The union of Christs natures the union of his elect unto him Gods eternall councell in election and reprobation and the like 2. The will shall be conformable to Gods will 3. The memory shall still keep what it knowes 4. The affections shall be according to the perfect pattern And all this shall be in perfection 1 Cor. 13. 10 12. For when that which is perfect is come that which is in part shall be done away And it must nâ—eds be where there is so much grace there should 〈◊〉 to much Glorie
a Covenant with death that it shall not come nigh to him And doth he not say with them in Amoz 9. 10. evill shall not overtake me Albeit they see wise men die and likewise the foollish is it not their thought that their houses shall continue for ever Psal 42. 11. It is certain this lesson no man can learne till God teach it him otherwise Moses had not need in a time of mortallity when so many fell on his right hand and on his left hand to pray Psal 90. 12. Lord teach us to number our dayes It is a pâ—ant of Gods own planting in mans heart sadly and seriously to thinke and be perswaded of the vanity and shortnesse of mans life that it is but a Tale a Shaddow a Sleep a Race a Bubble a Smoak a Wind a Flower to think how many wayes and how easie a man may take his death that our life is short and much of it past already that the day of our death is at hand that our Sun is about to set that our Shaddow declineth and is ready to vanish that it is certain we must die but uncertain when we must die these and such like thoughts as these Gods spirit only suggesteth and the Devill with all his might opposeth Esay 28. 15. Luk 12. 19. Psal 30. 4 5. Let us then thinke of it that death is the common condition of mankind and that our selves are mortall and may and must die shortly and let us say with Barzillai 2 Sam. 19. 37. How long have I to live If it be asked How we must thinke of it We answer first daily and continually not once a week much lesse is once a moneth or once a yeare sufficient to entertain this meditation of death 1 Cor. 15. â—1 I die daily 2 Cor. 21. 23. in deaths often First death hangeth over my head continually and I doe incessantly prepare my self for it Psal 119. 109. Secondly seriously and sadly as of a thing that doth most of all concern us not cursorily scornfully or prophanely as the Gentles 1 Cor. 15. 32. Esay 22. 13. Let us eate and drinke for tomorrow we shall die Thirdly profitably so as to make some advantage thereby to our soules Psalm 90. 12. Teach us so to number our dayes as to apply our hearts to wisdome Fourthly let us thinke of it as neere and at the doores and not with those in Amoz 6. 3 and the evill servant Mat. 24. 28. as farre of as a thing delayed or prolonged Ezek. 12. 22. 11. 11. Prov. 7. 19. To quicken us up to this duty let us consider these things First this meditation of death will keepe the heart in a good frame First in a repenting frame Jon. 3. 4. 5. 6. c. Secondly in a patient and a contented frame Job 1. 21. 2 Sam. 12. 23. Thirdly in a sober frame towards the vain delights of this world we shall not easily be intemperate in the use of that we looke upon as perishing in the using Eccles. 6 11. 12. chap. â— â— 2. chap. 5. 9 10. 15. Fourthly in an humble frame for we will not be lifted up with any thing we have or thinke we have whilst we are perswaded we must shortly leave it Gen. 18. 27. Acts 14 15. 5. This will keep the heart in a watchfull and carefull temper 2 Cor. 5. 6. 9. 2 Tim. 4 5. 6. Secondly this meditation wil be a preservative unto us to keep us from doing evill and a spurr to provoke us to good Amoz 6. 3. 2 Tim. 4. 5. 2 Cor. 5 6 7. 2. Pet. 1. 13 14 15. Thirdly this meditation will make us to take care to provide for death and keep us from being surprised thereby unawares which will be dangerous to us Mat. 24. 48 49 50. Helps To help us in this meditation let us use these meanes First let us have our Coffins alwayes ready in our houses Remember to die Written in great Letters before us and if we may have our Sepulchers in our gardens Ioâ— 19. 41. Mat. 27. 57 58 59 60. Secondly let us read oft those Scriptures and Bookes that treat of mans mortallity Thirdly let us look often upon the examples of mortallity Eccles. 7. 4. It is better to goe to the house of mourning then to the house of feasting because this is the end of all men and â—â—e living will â—â—y it to heart Let us looke much on our dying and think much on our dead friends and say as David I shall goe to them Fourthly pray that God will mind us of it Psal 90. 12. Thirdly the third main duty we are from hence to be exhorted to is to prepare for death before it come we use to provide for a great journey when we are to undertake it a great while before and before we go out of one house we use to take care where we may have another And thâ—â— is great reason for this 1. because it is a needfull care 2. It is a wise care it is a high point of holy wisdome so to do and extreame folly to neglect it Pro. 10. 5. 3. It is a glorious care it will be much to the honour and praise of him that doth take it and to the shame and reproach of him that doth neglect it 4. It is a profitable care for this will much joy the heart and aswage the evill of death when it comes Fiftly we if we be found unprepared for death when it comes are undone for ever If you shall desire to know when this preparation must be made We answer this work of preparation for death being the work of a beleever must be set upon presently and without delay and may not be put of to the morrow much lesse to the time of old age or of or after mens death For 〈◊〉 although it be certain that a 〈◊〉 shall â—â—e yet it is uncertain when he shall die Secondly no man knows what a day may bring forth perhaps he may not have to morrows time to do it Thirdly he will be lesse â—it to morrow then he is to day Fourthly â—he latest preparation is never to late but the late preparation is seldome true Fifthly it will be hard late to do any thing to it when death comes for we shall be then most of all unfit for the work Sixtly old age is also a most unfit time for 〈◊〉 Eccles. 12. 1. 2. Seventhly when we come to dâ—â— we shall find it enough to doe that work it will therefore be our wisdome to have nothing else to do at that time but to die Eightly It will be too late to do any thing after death for there is then no time of amendment of any thing for as death leaves mâ—n so judgment will find them Ec. 9. 10. Ninthly we read but of one that did put of this care to the last and prospered in it and this instance is extraordinary If now you shall ask how this preparation must be made We answer It
hath respect to two times First to all the time of amans life Secondly to the time a little before his death First all the time of a mans life Generally a man is to labour to be a new Creature by faith and repentance and to live a good life endeavouring to be better and better still and 〈◊〉 to be sure to do a good dayâ— work whilst he doth live for he that lives well cannot do amiâ—s and he that lives the life shall be sure to die the death of the righteous 2 Pet. 16. 7. 11 c. 2 Tim. 4. 7 8. 2 Pet. 3. 14. Gal. 6. 6. More especially we must labour for First peace with God in Christ and peace in our own Consciences Rom. 5. 1. 2 Pet 3. 14. Secondly the saving knowledge of God in Christ Ioâ— 17. 3. 3. A life regulated by Gods spirit and word Rom. 8. 14. Phil. 4. 7. There are degrees of life eternall and it is begun here the resurrection out of sin to holynesse of life is the beginning of eternall life Rev. 20. 6. Col. 1. 13. Gal. 2. 20. More particularly let us doe these things First let us get unto Christ by faith and thereby make our peace with God and get an assurance of a better life when this is at an end Rev. 14. 13. Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord i. in the faith of the Lord Jesus Christ 1 Cor. 15. 22. As in Adam all die so in Christ shall all be made alive i. As by Adam sin and death came over all so by Christ grace and life came to all beleevers 2 Pet. 3. 14. â—uke 2. 28 29. Now let thy â—ervant depart in peace for mine eyes have seene thy Salvation i. I doe willingly and chearfully leave this present life Heb. 11. 13. Ioh. 8. 24. He is the â—â—tter to leave his old when he knowes where to have a new and a beâ—â—r dwelling 2 Cor. 5. 1. 2. c. Secondly let us pray continually that God will fit us for death say with Moses Psal 9. 12. Lord teach me to number my dayes so as to apply my heart to wisedome Thirdly let us labour to mortifie our sinnes daily for here in lyeth the strength of death 1 Cor. 15. 56. For this purpose let us confesse it be humbled for it cry to God for pâ—rdon of and power against it and effectually apply by faith the death of Christ against it so shall we be sure that God will redeeme our souls from the power of the grave and receive us Psal 19. 15. Fourthly let us enure our selves to die by little and little that is not only live every houre as if we were dying but by our afflictions as lesser deaths prepare for our great death 1 Cor. 15. 3â— I die daily i. I am not only in danger of death daily but I doe thereby enure and prepare myself to die daily By undergoing a lesser we shall be prepared to undergoe a greater burden so men that are to run a large race prepare themselves for it by the running of a shorter race For this cause did Bilney the Martyr oft times before his burning put his little finger in the candle thereby the better to be prepared to suffer the burning of his whole body 2 Cor. 11. 23. 2 Cor. 1. 9 10. Fifthly let us alwayes watch and wayt for Christs comming to us in particular by our death that is shaking of security as we would shake of sleep let us take great heed that we not overcome by sin or Satan and looking always for death be in a dying posture and live every houre as if it were our last houre Iob. 14. 14. All the dayes of my appointed time I will wait till my change come Luk. 2. 25. Motives 1. It will be very profitable for us so to watch 2. It will be very dangerous for us to neglect it See Mat. 24. 42. to the end of that chapter and Mat. 25. 1. to verse 14. Sixthly let us be able to looke beyond death into heaven and the glory thereof Heb. 11. 25. 2 Cor. 5. 1. He will not care much to be turned out of the house he dwels in when he knows where to have a better house at hand to goe into Seventhly let us keep our hearts from being glued by overmuch love to the world or any thing in it for by how much the more we love by so much the more we shall grieve when we leave it 2 Sam. 18. 33. Eightly let us get as much of the tast of heaven here as we can that the sweetnesse thereof may make us more to desire the full fruition of it The preparation to be made a little before and at the time of a mans death lyeth in these things First to God-wâ—â—d Secondly to man-ward To God-ward â— If sicknesse goe before death we are the◠〈◊〉 to looke upon it as Gods hand and that for our sin Lam. 3. 39. Ioh. 5. 14. 1 Cor. 11. 20 21. and 30. 2. We are to labour to renew our saith and repentance and so to get a renewed assurance of Gods favour by an earnest seeking of him by prayer so David Psa 32. Psal 38. Psal 39. 2. To man-ward our selves and others when we be sick we are to call in help from the prayers and counsel of good people who are able to help us herein Mark 2. 4. Iam. 5. 14. Heb. 3. 1. 2. We are to use the best outward meanes we can for the recovery of our health 2 King 20. 7. Luk 1â— 3 4. Matt. 9. 12. 3. We are to set our house in order i. to make our will if it be not made before and give direction what we will have done after our death 2 Sam. 23. Gen. 25. 5 6. 4. We are as much as we may to endeavour to be reconciled to our Neighbours with whom we are at difference Matt. 5. 25. Rom. 12. 8. 5. We are to get and make use of all the comfortable meditations we can think of against the fear of death 6. If we be Magistrates or Ministers we are to do what we can to further the well ordering of the Common-wealth and Church after our death Deut. 32. 2. 1 Kings 2. 1. 2 Pet. 1. 5. In death it self or being about to die we are to give up our souls to God i. to his care and keeping being his by redemption Psal 31. 5. Luk. 23. 46. Acts 7. 59. And this we are to do 1. Beleevingly as Stephen Acts 7. â—6 59. died in the embracements of the Lord Jesus Christ and calling upon his name Iob. 13. 15 1 Sam. â—0 6. Heb. 11. 21. 22. 13. These 〈◊〉 in faith 2. Charitably so Stephen Acts. 7. 20. Lord â—ay not this sinne to their charge and Christ Luk. 23. 34. 〈◊〉 forgive them 3. Patiently 2 King 20. 2. Iam. 5. 7 8. 4. Obediently and submissively so Christ Matt. 26. 39. not as I will but as thou wilt Phil. 〈◊〉 defecta 〈◊〉 c. 2 8. Rom.
doore of Heaven the gaâ—e of Life the entrance into perfect peace and security the day break of eternall brightnesse It is the consummation of a mans victory the beginning of glory to be perfected at the day of Judgment Here the law of the fleâ—â— shall no more oppose the law of the mind Then shall be perfect rest settled peace a sure inheritance without any feeling of trouble or fear of lâ—sse Then shall be the buriall of all sinnes the raising of all virtues Then shall the soul fly out of the body as an Eagle above the Clouds where shall be neither nets nor snares to take it Who would fear or fly from this change Who would not be glad and desirous to embrace it 2 Cor. 5. 8. Esay 57. 1. 3. Ecâ—les 12. 7. The Spirit returneth to God that gave it being absent from the body we are present with the Lord. Rev. 14. 13. Blessed aâ—â— the dead that die in the Lord for they rest from their labours c. Phil. 1. 23. I desire to be dissolved and to be with Christ which is best of all Phil. 3. 20 21. Our Conversation is in heaven from whence we looke for the Saviour the Lord Iesus Christ who shall change our vile body that it may be fashioned like unto hiâ— glorious body and 1 Thes 4. 14. 17. Luke 16. 22. When Lazâ—â—â—â— died it is said the Angels carryed his soul into Abrahams bâ—some an allâ—sion as some would have it to the sweet delights and fellowship the Saints shall have with Abrham the father of the faithfull in Heaven as at a Feast whereat in the Eastern Countries they used to leane on one anothers breast Iohn 13. 23. others would have it a mâ—ta phâ—â— from Fathers who imbosome and hug their Children when wearied with long running about or have met with a knock and come crying to them By death the soul is marryed to Jesus Christ her dearest husband the which hath been here kept at a distance from him but then it shall be more neerly united to him and enjoy the beatificall vision of the Godhead the chiefest good and then is there but one step more and soul and body together shall have the compleat enjoyment thereof Then shall the beleever not only be brought into the bouse of his Father prepared from all eternity for him but he shall also there for ever have and enjoy the fellowship of all the blessed Saints and Angels and of his dearest frâ—inds who died in the Lord before him Heb. 6. 20. 1â— 23. 2 Sam. 12. 23. Who then would not be willing to die It is no maâ—â—ailâ— therefore iâ— Paul in the Contemplâ—tion or all these things desired to be dissolved Phil. 1. 23. and that the Saints desire to be uâ—clâ—thed of their house of clay 2 Cor. 5. 2. And that the wicked do so much desire to diâ— the death of the righteous Numb 23. 10. And that the Maityrs loved not their lives unto death Rev. 12. 11. Acts 20. 24. but refused deliverance from death when they might have had it Heb. 11. 35. they were as willing to die as to live Out of all this we may then conclude upon the beleevers death with Salomon Eccleâ—â— 7. 3. The â—a of death is better then the day of his birth But here it may be objected that death is a fruit of Gods curse the wages of â—â—n the destruction of nature and a bitter and dreadfull thing To which we answer thus It is bitter and dreadfull in it self but it is the way all flesh do go and Christ himself went into glory and the nature of it is now changed as we have already shewed the sting of it is gone and it cannot hurt us and it is sanctified and sweetned by the death of Christ who will be with us and enable us to endure it Esay 43. 2. Oh! but you will say I am affraid of a long and strong disease and a painfull death To this we say Perhaps it may be otherwise for some die with little some without any pain at all But if it be so either god will lessen the pain or greaten thy strength and comfort 2 Cor. 1. 5. 10. 13. And very long the disease cannot be It is but like one swallow of a bitter pill and be cuâ—ed of all diseases one thrust out at a narrow gate and we are out of prison it is but one wink and all is past 2 Cor. 4. 17. Oh! But some will say the grave which followes death at the heels is a dreadfull spectacle To this we answer That the grave shall be no other to the Saints but as a sweet bed wherein they shall sleep quietly and feel nothing Esay 57. 1. 3. And Christ the members of whose body they still continue to be will be there with them and bring them from thence into heaven Ephes. 5. 30. Psal 16. 9. 0. Fifthly The â—ifth thing to which we are to be perswaded is that since we must shortly die and by death be for ever seperated from our worldly enjoyments that we do not overmuch desire them before we have them not to much delight glory please and content our selves or trust in them when we have them nor much be grieved for them when we loose them Riches Honours Offices Authority Command Friends Pleasures and the rest what are they What can they do Matt. 6. 19 20. Lay not uâ— for your selves treasures on earth c. Jo 6. 27. Labour not for the meat which perisheth c. 1 Cor. 7. 29. Let them that have wives be as if they â—ad none 1 Tim. 6. 1â— Trust not in uncertain riches Psal 62. 10. If riches increase set not thine heart upon them Prov. 23. 4. Labour not to be rich But for the Cure of this consider these things 1. That all Silver Gold Pearls c. are but vile things Earth upon Earth Matth. 6. verse 19. Silver and Gold is but White and Yellow earth Pearls the guts and garbage of the Earth all of them but thick clay Hab. 2. 9. 2. Riches Honours and the rest reach no further then to this life Iob 17. 15 16. 3. They can do little for us while we have them they can procure us no spirituall or solid joy they cannot preserve or deliver us from any great evill Prov. 10. 2. Treasures of wickednesse profit nothing Prov. 11. 4. Riches profit not in the day of wrath Psal 49. 6 7. They that trust in their wealth c. none of them can by any means redeem his brother c. Luke 12. 15. 4. They are of a perishing vanishing nature they perish with the using they are but as heaps of Snow or Chasse they melt away between our singers as butter before the Sun and are gone we know not how they that lean upon and trust unto them are as men that trust to a hillâ—â—k of Yee or heap of Snow Psal 30. 6 7. Esay 40. 6. All flesh is grasse and the glory thereof as the flower
have already shewed and we are not to be much troubled at our own losse which is so much to their gain they are but gone to bed and in a sweet sleep a little before us 10. 11. 11. Ps 37. 7. Luke 16. 24. 10. They are not gone from but a little before us and we shall shortly go to them 2 Sam. 12. 23. 11. They shall rise again and we shall meet again and live together for ever in a far better condition then we are or can be in here 1 Thess 4. 3. 2. In the second place let this perswade us not to trust too much in friends Psal 146. 3. Put not your trust in Princes nor in the sonnes of men for there is no help in him his breath departeth he returneth to his earth in that very day his thoughts perish Esay 2. 22. Cease from man whose breath is in his â—ostrils for wherein is he to be esteemed 2. As to Enemies Let this perswade us not to live in fear of them be they never so mighty rich cruel c. able and willing to hurt us For first all their power can reach but to the bodie it cannot touch the soul Mat. 10. 28. 2. They can do no more to our bodies then God hath decreed and shall give them leave to do Acts 2. 23. Revel 2. 10. Luke 8. 3â— Iob 1. 4 5 6. 3. They must shortly die and then that power they have will be taken from them Matt. 2. 16. 19. Iob 3. 17. there i in the grave the wicked cease from troubling Thus we have done with the use of exhortation The next use we shall make of this point shall be for consolation and this Vse 3 is to the Saints under all their lesser deaths the troubles of this present life which they either feel or fear this great death will shortly come and put an end to them all Iob 3. 17. There the weary be 〈◊〉 c. they heare not the voice of the oppressor for being once dead they can die no more This very Use the Holy Ghost doth make of this point 〈◊〉 Rev. 14. 13. Esay 7. 1. for as it is a comfort to a man in a dark prison that he hath no light but through a little hole If looking through it he can see some pleasant object that doth delight him it will make his imprisonment seem shorter and lighter So doubtlesse will it comfort Gods people to contemplate this doore of hope shortly to be opened to them by which they shall be let out of all the troubles of this present life into a place and estate of perfect peace and liberty Vse 4 But here that we be not mistaken and to the end that the comforts before reached out and offered to the Saints be not catched hold of and assumed by the wicked that have nothing to do therewith we shall subjoyn a word or two of â—yall and examination If we be the persons to whom the comforts before heâ—â— forth do belong who shall have a happy change who shall be blessed in dâ—ath rest from their labours after death being dissolved shall be with Christ who shall have hope in death whose flesh shall rest in hope whose 〈◊〉 bodies shall be with Christ who shall have hope in death whose flesh shall rest in hope whose vile bodies shall be made like Christs glorious body who shall have peace who shall rest in our beds and be gathered to our graves in peace we must be able to give this Character of our selves That we are upright righteous persons perfect and mercifull men such as do studdy to approve our selves in all things towards God and men 2 Cor. 1. 12. 9 10. Prov. 14. 31. 32. Psal 37. 7. Esay 57. 1. 3. Numb 23. 10. That we are in Christ Jesus 1 engâ—aâ—â—ed into him by faith Rev. 14. 13. And if so then are we 1. New Creatures that is we have new qualyties of holinesse created in us Rom. 8. 38 39. 2 Cor. 5. 2. 2. We are dead to sin and alive to righteousnesse Rom. 6. 3 4. c. 3. We walk not after the flesh but after the spirit Rom. 8. 10. 19. 2 Cor. 5. 1. 5. 4. We have tender hearts and humble our selves before God his word and his judgments 2 Kings 22 19 20. We are also active and industrious for Gods glory and his peoples good Phil. 1. 1 2 c. 1 Pet 1. 12. Our conversation is heavenly Phil. 2â— 21. We are Saints and such as make the Lord â—uâ— portion Psal 16. 5 These are Gods people who have the Lord for their God and to whom the comforts of this poyâ—t belong Mat. 22. 32. What then have reprobate unregenerate unbeleeving 〈◊〉 unmercifull deceitfull carelesse hard-hearted proud 〈◊〉 wicked and impenitent persons to do with those comfortable promises and discoveries they have no part nor portion herein but their portion 〈◊〉 in the next use Vse 5 The next and last use to be made of this point of deathâ— certain and speedy approach is of very great terrour and discomfort to all wicked and ungodly persons such as we have before sâ—cluded from all the comfort of this point The licentious â—â—â—cure that sayth 1 Cor. 15. 32. Let us eat and drink for tomorrow we shall die Luke 12. 19. Psal 49. 18. The secure wordling that doth think his house shall continue for ever Psal 49. 11. and that he hath enough for many yeares Luk. 12. 19. The proud who trusteth in his goods and glorâ—eth in the multitude of his wealth Psal 49. 6. and all other sinners whatsoever that walk in the way of their own hearts and either mind not at all or put farre from them their dying day Eccles. 7. 9. Amoâ— 6. 3. All these are to know to their grief and astonishment that they must certainly and shortly die and that very suddenly and when they least of all expect it their souls will be required of them and return they must to God to give an account of all the things they have done in their flesh and from thence be sent packing to hell their bodies shall â—re long chop into the earth when they must leave all their worldly enjoyments they so much glory and rejoyce in and settle upon to others and be gone from hence to be seen no more A change they also shall make but not from a worse to a better estate but from a better to a worse estate they shall go from peace to trouble from liberty to bondage from life to death from their heaven to hell and from the enjoyment and the hope of all in this world which either is or they esteem to be good to all that is evill or if they do as some of them do go from a sad condition here they go into a worse out of the Frying-pan they gâ—â— to the Fiâ—e â—ut of Prison to the Gallowes they are lanching into an infinite ocean of scalding Lead and in it they must swim naked for ever In one word
his works but the finall and solemn consummation and manifestation thereof is not till this day of judgment Object 2 It may be also objected out of that place Iohn 12. 47. that Christ sayth He came not to judge the world but to save it To this we answer That by those words Christ meaneth nothing but Answer this that he came not then when he came first into the world to judge or punish men for sin but to save men from sin and for that purpose then rather to execute his priestly and propheticall office then his kingly office in the judgment and punishment of sinners which is to be done at the time of his second comming to judgment Object 3 There is yet one more objection to be answered which is this There needeth no other judgment then what is already Iohn 3. 18. 5. 24. He that beleeveth shall not come into judgement but heâ— that beleeveth not is condemned already To this we answer that the sence of this place is by Interpreters thus that the beleever shall not be judged to condemnation but in the judgment of absolution he shall be judged And as for the unbeleever he is condemned already by that ancient sentence Gen. 3. 19. 2. 17. Gal. 3. 19. he is condemned also by Gods councell and decree by Gods word and by his own conscience the sentence is as it were passed the halter about his neck nothing to be done but turn him over the ladder of life and he is gone for ever Or he is as sure to be condemned as if it were done already but the full and solemn declaration and execution of this is not till this last judgment And now we shall come to the application of this point and consider what profitable uses we may make thereof wherein we must premise these things that some of the uses are deduced from the generall doctrine of the last judgment and some of them from some particular branches of this doctrine or some things that do accompany this judgement As the firing of the world the end of all things and the like And some of the uses are applyable to all men but some to good men and some to bad men only Vse 1 The first use shall be of Instruction and discovery to shew us some things concerning this point of the last judgment 1. Who shall be Judge The Lord Jesus Christ God and man as to the externall visible act is to be the Judge of quick and dead Acts 17. 31. 10. 42. And herein his divinity and humanity both shall be exercised But as to the consent and authority the whole Trinity shall be Judge Rom. 2. 5. 16. 1 Cor. 4. 5. Christ Jesus the second person of the Trinity is to be the Judge 1. That as he was judged by the world so the world may be judged by him 2. That as 〈◊〉 people have seen him in his state of humility so they may see him in a state of glory 3. That therby he may perfect his Kingly office 4. Because the Father hath committed all judgment to him John 5. 27. 22. 5. That he may have the same honour with his Father 6. That the Iudge may be visible If that be objected which is in Matt. 19. 28. 1 Cor. 6. 2. that the Apostles and Saints shall judge the world The answer is this That some take the sence of this text to be but this That their doctrine faith and grace shall rise in judgment against the unbeliefe and wickednesse of the world and leave them inexcusable Heb. 11. 7. Mat. 12. 41 4â— Others thus They shall sit with him as assistants and approve of the sentence as Iustices of peace with the Iudges Others thus They shall according to their measure partake of the glory of Christs Kingdome and be therein preferred before others Luke 22. 30. Rev. 10. 4. 2 26 Dâ—â— 12. 3. 2. What this judgment shall be It shall be that whereby Christ will judge all men without exception according to his word some to eternall life some to eternall death 3. The place where this judgment shall be For this some have thought that the place of this judgment shall be over the valley of Jehosaâ—hat nâ—â—r to Ierusalem and for proofe hereof have alleadged some reasons and some places of Scripture As Ioel 3. 1 2. 2 Chron. 20. 1. 22 23. c. But this opinion seemeth to be very doubtfull and it is more probable it shall be in the aire and alost from thâ—se Scriptures Luke 21. 27. Mat. 24. 27 28. 30 31. 1 Thess 4. 17. 4. The time when this judgment shall be For this some have held it shall be at the end of 6000. years Others immediatly after the discovery of Antichrist Others at another time But these things are not certain Yet as to this poynt the Scripture seems clearly to hâ—ld forth these things 1. That Gods people shall have a more certain knowledge of the time when this judgment shall be then wicked men shall have they may perhaps be able to see and say in what age it shall be 1 Thess 5. 1 2 3. c. But the very precise time no man or Angell can or shall know for this knowledge is hid from man and kept in Gods own power 1. For his own glory 2. For his peoples good to the end they may be alwayes upon their watch and still ready and prepared Therefore God hath kept one day from us that we may watch every day There is nothing more certain then that Christ will come but nothing more uncertain then the time when Christ will come to judgment Mat. 24. 36. But of that day and houre knoweth no man no not the Angels of heaven but my Father only But as the dayes of Noah were so likewise shall the comming of the Soâ—â—e of man be Acts 1. 7. Marke 13. verse 32. 2. That this day shall come when it doth come suddainly and unexpectedly as a thief in the night and a snare upon the blind and secure inhabitants of the world Luke 21. 35. When they shall cry peace then shall come suddaine destruction 1 Thess 5. 3. Matt. 24. 38. As in the dayes before the 〈◊〉 they did eate and drinke c. and knew nothing till the floud tooke them all away so shall the comming of the Sonne of man be 3. This day is not farre off but neer at hand and is hastened by the sins of wicked and the prayers of godly men 1 Pet. 4. 7. Rev. 22. 17. chap. 14. 14 15. c. 4. The manner and order of this last judgment and of Christs comming to it This judgment will be in itself and to all wicked men exceeding terrible and dreadfull For as the Iudge so the judgment will be most impartiall just and righteous Rom. 2. 2. We are sure the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things If Gods temporall judgments which were only shaddowes hereof were so terrible how much more
the Angels as by his 〈◊〉 and executioners he shall send cite summon and gather together all Nations before him 1 Thess 4. 16. Mat 24. 31. 1 Corin. â—5 52. Matt. 25. 32. And thus much for what shall go before the judgement It will be terrible also for the things which shall accompany the Judgement it self For the proceeding herein shall be much after the manner of the Judicatures of men For here in are thrones prepared for the Judge his 〈◊〉 and assistants and they shall sit on them Dan. 7. verse 10. Matth. 19. verse 18. Reâ— 20. verse 11. 2. There is â— a law making the offence and a punishment appointed for the â—ssence 2. a hearing of the cause wherein is an offence proved to be done 〈◊〉 sentenced to be punished 3. the sentence executed according to that â—aw In the doing of 〈◊〉 are two parts 1. a hearing of the cause 2. a doing of execution and in the first of these are foure parts 1. an accusation 2. an arraâ—gnment 3. an examination of witnesses or giving of evidence 4. a giving of sentence So here The Iudge being on his Throne and all Nations convented before him every man is brought forth his case is examined and he receiveth his sentence according to it But to open this yet more fully let us examine these two things 1. by what men shall be tryed 2. how it shall be done 1. By what They shall be tryed â—y their words and works by which their faith or infidelity shall be discerned Matth. 25. 35 42 c. Iude v. 15. 2 â—or 5. 10. 2. How they shall be tryed 1 by discovery of the fact 2 by discovery of the Law By discovery of the fact For which purpose The books of Gods 〈◊〉 knowâ—edge 〈◊〉 every mans own consciâ—â—â—â— as an informer accusing and as a thousand with 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 then â—ly and lye so open that every man shall have all his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—â—d shall be left and sit down speechlesse excuselesse and self 〈◊〉 Iude v 15. And this shall be such a discovery as nothing shall escape it for it shall be of every thought of ouâ— heart though never so secret every 〈◊〉 â—f our 〈◊〉 though never so carâ—lesly uttered every glance of 〈◊〉 eye every moment of our time every omission of good every commission 〈◊〉 done by ourselves or by others and suffered by us of every 〈◊〉 we 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of every good thing committed to us of every work we have done â—f every company we have kept all this must be brought to judgement And our 〈◊〉 that â—e nâ—w written as it were with the 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 shall then be by the fire of the last day made most legible Matth. 25. 19. Rom. 2. 1 6 Râ—â— 20. 12 Eccles 20. 1. God will bring every work to judgement with every 〈◊〉 thing whether good or evill 1 Corin. 4. 5. Iudge nothing before the time till the Lord come who will lighten things that are hid in darknesse and make 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the heart manifest and then shall every ma◠〈◊〉 praise of God 〈◊〉 50. â—1 I will reprove thâ—â— and set them in order beforâ— thine eyes 2. This that be by discovery of the word of God Law and Gospel For men shall have that light therein as to see 1. what they should have done 2. what they have done against it 3. what they must 〈◊〉 for it They that have had no more but the law of nature shall be judged by that alone they that have had the law written by that also they that have had them both and the Gospell shall be judged by them all Rom. 2. 12. 16. Iohn 1 2. 48. Thus thâ—â—â—yall and hearing of every mans cause being done and passed there shall be a seperation made of the good and bad the good shall be set on Christs right-hand a place of dignity and safetie the bad on his left-hand a place of neglect and forsaking Matth. 25. 33. Then the sentence shall be pronounced and this is twofold 1. of Absolution to the good the sheep on his right hand in these words Come yee blessed c. every word full of sweetnesse and comfort 2. Of Condemnation to the bad the Goats on his left hand in these words Depart ye cursed into everlasting fire prepared for the Devil and his Angels a sentence breathing out nothing but fire and brimstone stings and horrours every word whereof hath in it a deadly sting Depart be gone from me from God this were Hell enough to go from God the chiefest good But oh God! let me go with a blessing nay with a curse and vengeance Gâ—yee 〈◊〉 Whether Lord must I go Let me go to some good place of pleasure â—â—y to Hâ—ll fire a fire as bad as Gods wisdome can devise of old by him devised for thy torment yet let me I pray thee come out again â—ay into everlasting fire Grant me then but some good company there nay with the Devill â—â—d his Angels And thus we have the terriblenesse of the Iudgment and that which doth accompany it Now that which followeth it is the execution of this sentence and this will be much more terrible For 1. it will be suddain and present there can be no reprieve the 〈◊〉 be no delay 2. Iâ— will be certain no pardon noâ— other thing can happen or come between the Cup and the Lip to prevent it 3. It will be unresistable and unavoidable for no power or policy can rescue the prisoner 4. It will continue to all eternity The wicked being then under that shame and contempt spoken off by Daniel chap. 12. v. 2. and under ten thousand timeâ— more horror and grief then ever any guilty condemned person was after his sentence of condemnation pronounced shall be violently puld down to Hell from the presence of the glorious God Iesus Christ all good Angels and Men and their godly friends who shall be then so far from pittying and praying for them that they shall rejoyce in Gods justice upon them and there they must suffer the pain and horrour of eternall â—aselesse and reâ—â—dilesse vengeance in a dark dungeon the gates whereof are to be for ever shut upon them whilest the godly shall be taken up into heaven there to enjoy everlasting rest glory and peace Matth. 25. 46. And they shall go into everlasting pain and these into eternall life Revel 20. 14. Death and Hell i. the heirs of Death and Hell the reprobates shall be cast into the lake of fire this is the second Death of which we shall anon speak largly 2 Cor. 5. 10. 7. This Iudgment being dispatched the end of all things shall come Matth. 13. 40. 24. 3. 31 32 c. 1 Cor. 15. 23 24. 8. This doctrine of the last judgment and Christ comming ought much to be thought upon of every Christian Rev. 22. 12. 9. By this we may be taught also That God will have the glory of his justice to be seen 2 Thess 1. 4.
very base and miserable condition 3. That there are degrees of this happines and misery And then last of all for the use of all this we shall shew how we may attain to the one and escape the other And for a foundation of all our structure we will first of all lay down this doctrinall proposition or point DOCTRINE That there is a Heaven and a Hell that this Heaven is a state of wonderfull happinesse And this Hell is a state of wonderfull miserie And there are degrees of this happinesse and misery These parts we shall take and handle asunder That there is a Heaven THat there is a heaven may appear by these things 1. Otherwise the condition of the best men will be worst for in this life they receive most evil things Luke 16. 25. If in this life onely we have hope in Christ we are of all men most miserable 1 Cor. 15. 19. 2. How otherwise can God be just or appear to be just And shall not the judge of all the earth doe right If God proportion the worst â—staâ—â— to the best men he must at least seem to be unjust which cannot be 2 Thâ—â—salonians 1. 5 6 7. It is a righteous tâ—â—â—g with God 〈◊〉 to giâ—e you rest who are troubled It is a manifeâ—â— taken of the righteous judgements of God This time and state is therefore called The time of the reâ—â—lation of the righteous judgements of God Rom. 2. 5. 3. Otherwise theâ—e is no reward for the righteous for all the good works they have done And the reward of their works shall be given them Iâ—say 3. 10. 4. Otherwise the greatest part of the Scripture must be false and the promises of heaven to the righteous must be of no force for the Scripture saith there is a Heaven and God hath promised it to the righteous and it is purchased and prepared for them Matth. 2 5. 31 5 12 19 8 1â— 21. Coâ—oss 1. 5. Heb. 10. 34 5. It is begun here and men have a little taste of it in this life which is an evidence to them of the full fâ—uâ—tion thereof in the life to come Rom. 5. 2 8 23. Mark 9. 45 6. If there be a God there is a Kingdom of God But the first is true 7. There is a resurrection of good and bad and therefore a place for good and bad That there is a Hell THat there is a Hell may appear by these things 1. Otherwise the condition of the worst men will be best for in this life they for the most part receive good things Luke 16. 25. They are not afflicted as other men i The righteous for there are no other men but the righteous and the wicked Psal 78. 5. 2. Otherwise Gods justice is not seen in giving to every man according to his deeds as in that Rom. 2. 5 6. It is a righteous thing with God to recompence tribulation to them that trouble you 2 Thess 1. 6 7. When the Lord Iesus shall be revealed from Heaven with his mighty Angels in flaming fire to take vengeance c. 3. Otherwise the sinner shall escape unpunâ—hed for his sin for many of them are not plagued at all for their sins here And yet the reward of his hands shall be given him Esay 3. 11. And every one muâ—â— receive according to that he hath done whether it be good or bad 2 Cor. 5. 10. 4. Otherwise the word of God that doth assure us there is a Hell and all the threatnings of God against sinners that they shall be cast into bell c. are false Esay â—0 33. Topheâ— is prepared of old c. Psal 9. 13. The wicked shall be turned into Hell and all the nations that forget God Matt 5. 22 10 28 18 9. 5. It is begun here and they have a taste of it in this present life for what else is it that doth cause that horrour of conscience in some men but the fear of lying for ever under Gods wrath in this place Iudas Matt. 27. 7. Acts 1. 25. Spirâ—t c. Belshassar Dan. 5. Herod Nero and others What Heaven is IN the opening of this point we shall shew first in generall what is either properly or figuratively and by way of resemblance and of it And 2 in some particulers wherein it doth consist Heaven is the blessed state and condition made and appointed by God for the eternall happinesse of the godly and elect after this life is ended with God and his blessed Angels above where the most lively visible and Comfortable discovery of Gods gracious presence is a little taste whereof we have here a greater when Soul and Body are seperated by death And the full fruition whereof we have when the Body shall be raised and Soul and Body united together As touching this place and condition we must first know that the excellency glory and sweetnesse thereof no mortall heart or created understanding can possibly conceive and comprehend to the life For S. Paul tells us 1 Cor. 2. 9. That neither eye hath seen nor eare heard nâ—â—ther heart of man conceived the incomprehensible height and glorious misteries of that heavenly wisdom and inutterable divine sweetnesse revealed in the Gospell How transcendently then unutterable and unconcewable is the fulfilling perfection the reall actuall and full fruition of all those evangellicall revelations accomplished to the height in the highest heavens through all eternitie But this is ceâ—tain that this state and place is a state and place of inconceivable happinesse and pleasure For if the Disciples of Christ in the Transfiguration were so taken and â—avished with a little glimpse of this glory that they desired they might for ever enjoy it Matt. 17. 2 3 4. What then will the full view thereof be and if the tast of it onely be a â—â—y that passetâ— all understanding Phil. 4. 7. a joy unspeakable and full of glory 1 Pet. 1. 8. Then the whole cup and full draught thereof must needs be an exceeding and eternal weight of glory 2 Cor. 4. 17. There is a fulnesse of joy in it Psal 17. 15. The soul shall have so much that it shall desire no more it shall have so much that it can receive no more as a vessel that is full to the top It is a rich inheritance Ephes 1. 18. No man can know it in the extent but he that injoyeth it and all that can be said of it can but as he that drew out the whole body of Hercules by his foot frame unto us a conjecture of the matter that will comeâ—arâ—â— short of the thing it self The Scripture doth set it forth unto us by the most excellent and precious things that are in the world It is called a kingdom and crown which is the top and Crown of all earthly happinesse In this there is a confluence of all 〈◊〉 pleasures glory and what mans heart can with for outward welfare and felicity they that pâ—ssess this are said to be Kings and to
glorified bodies by the brightnes of God communicated to them outshining the Sun and Stars in brightnes shall there concur It is called therefore the inheritance of the Saints in light Collos 1. 12. Revel 21. 13. Mat. 17. 2. Dan. 12. 3. Phil. 3. 21. Collos 3. 4. Exod. 34. 29. 2. For the company the society company shall add much to the felicity of the Saints in Heaven For their company shall be God the Father Son and holy Ghost The Patriarchs Prophets and Apostles the Martyâ—â— and Saints Abraham Isaac and Iacob and all our godly friends depaâ—ted for we shall all meet together and be for ever with the Lord and with these they shall have a familiar acquaintance they shall all rejoyce in each others happines and thereby increase each others joy This I say c. That yee may also have fellowship with us and that our fellowship also may be with the Father and with his Son 〈◊〉 Christ 1 Jo. 1. 3. 1 Thess 4. 17. Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up c. and so shall we be for ever with the Lord. Jo. 17. 24 Father I will that they which thou hast given mee be where I am that they may behold that my glory which thou hast given me Hebr. 12. 22 2â— 24. But yee are come to the mount Sion the City of the living God the heavenly Ierusalem the company of innumerable Angels the Congregation of the first born written in heaven to God the Judge of all to the Spirits of just and perfect men to Jesus the Mediator of the new Testament c. Phil. 2. 1. Psal 17. v. 15. Rev. 21. v. 3. 22. 33. Mat. 8. 1â— Mat. 13 28. Luke 20. 36. 1 Thes 4. 13. And there shall be none but saints there Rev. 21. 27. 22. 3 â—4 15. 2 Pâ—t 3. 1â— So that then our Union and Communion with God shall be perfect Suppose we a wife that loves her husband dearly and desires his company much above all things in the world but hitherto his occasions have been such that she could not enjoy him now that he is resolved to live at home alwayes with her how comfortable and joyfull a thing will this be to her So now the Church of Christ and Christ heretofore kept a part shall for ever dwell together and be parted no more 3. For the time of enjoyment of this happines it shall be for ever â—nd ever It is therefore called an inheritance 1 Pet. 1. 4. Acts 20. 32. and everlasting life Mat 25. 46. If we ask why God should give an eternall reward for â—emporall service we must answer because it is his pleasure as it is his pleasure to give a Kingdome for to give an everlasting Kingdome And it is a gift like himself and â—â—t for such a one to give Luke 12. 32. Iames 1. 6. 1 Tim. 6. 17. Now put all this together and then let us think what a state and condition heaven is and whether he be not a happy man that is born to inheâ—it this May we not say of this O joy above all 〈◊〉 yes and without which there is no joy when shall I enter into thee to see my God that dwelleth in thee O everlasting Kingdome O Kingdom of all eternities O Light without end O Pence of God that 〈◊〉 all understanding in which the Souls oâ— Saints do rest with thee and everlasting joyes are upon their heads and all pain and sorrow is fled from them O how glorious a Kingdome is thine O Lord where in all Saints do dwel with thee adorned with light as with apparel and having Crowns of precious stones on their heads O Kingdom of everlasting blisse where thou O Lord the hope of all Saints art and the Diadem of all their perpetuall glory rejoycing theâ— on every side with thy blessed sight In this kingdom of thine there is infinite joy and myrth without sadnes health without sicknes life without death ease without pain light with out darknes and all good without any evill where youth flourisheth that never waxeth old life that knoweth no end beauty that never fadeth love that never cooleth health that never diminiâ—heth joy that never ceaseth where sorrow is never felt complaint is never heard matter of sadnes is never seen nor evill successe is ever feared For that they possesse thâ—e O Lord which art the perfection of 〈…〉 What Hell is IN the opening of this point we shall take the same course as wâ— doe in the opposite branch 1. What it is in generall 1. Wherein it doth consist in some particulers Hell is the miserable state and condition made and appointed by God for the eternall torment of the wicked and reprobate with the divell and his Angels after this life is ended beneath where the most lively sensible and terrible discovery of Gods wrath is A little taste whereof men have here a greater after death And the full and perfect suffering whereof they have after the resurrection of the Body and reuniting of Soul and Body together As touching this place and state also we must conceive the sorrows and pain thereof as inconceiveable and inutterable as the other If the weight of the little finger of Gods wrath herein be so heavy as insupportable what will his whole loyns be If the taste of it be so intollerable what will the full cup thereof be yet so it is For the Holy Ghost speaking of that little men do see and feel in this life expresseth it thus A wounded Spirit who can bear Pro. 18. 14. It is intollerable for so that manner of speech doth intend This weight made Christ himself though he knew he should get out of it wuickly yell and whiles he was under it was supported by a mighty strength to sweat drops of blood and cry out aloud Lord Lord Why hast thou forsaken me This is it that hath made the faithfull themselves though supported by Gods hand so heavily to lament and so bitterly to bemoan their estate Psal 77. This is that which hath made the wicked weary of their lives and to chuse death rather then life as Iudas Saul Spira and others It is but the apprehension of this state to come and neer at hand that makoâ— those kings and great persons Rev. 6. 15 16 17. To hide themselves and to say to the mountains fall on us and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the Throncâ— and from the wrath of the Lamb For the great day of his wrath is come and who shall be able to staâ—d like unto that Esay 33. 14. The sinners in Sion are afraid fearfulnesse hath surprised the hypocrites Who amongst us shall dwell with devouring â—ire Who amongst us shall dwell with with everlasting burnings If a glimpse and a glanse of this now and that seen a far ofâ— be so dreadfull and horrid what will the weight and feeling of it present be then when the wrath of God shall for ever in all
20. They are to be burnt 30 In gluttony and worldlinesse Phil. 3. 19. The end of such men is destruction of body and soul in hell Matth. 19. 28. 31 In Apostasie and progresse from evill to worse 1 Tim. 5. 12. 2. Tim. 3. 13. 22 In not enduring to think of the comming of the Lord Jesus to judgment They shall call on the mountains to cover them c. 33 In Hereticall opinions Rom. 3. 8. 2 Thess 2. 10. 12. God shall send them strong delusions to beleeve lies that they may be damned c. 2 Pet. 2. 1. If a man would now desire to know which way he is passing whether he be going to heaven or to hell Let him examine himself by these rules and try himself by the particulars aforesaid And thereby he shall soon see which way he takes and to what 〈◊〉 will come If he be going the broad and easie way of sin which mans carnall reason directeth and mans corrupt will and affections embraceth he is going the way to destruction if he walk after the prince that ruleth in the air after the course of this present world then he is still in practice as we are by nature The childe of wrath There are three sorts of men 1 Such as are affected with desperate horrours and fears as Iudas these will not escape hell Matth. 27. 5. 2 such as are sottish and senslesse that fear nor or care for any thing these are not the likely men to escape it 3 The vain presumptuous man that 〈◊〉 and hath no ground for his hope 4. Such as have a lively hope upon good and solid grounds these may expect deliverance from â—â—ll and the obtaining of heaven 2 Tim 4. 8. We shall shut up this part in the words of Mâ—ses Deut. 32. 29. Oh that they were wise then they would understand this they would consider their latter end 3 The 3. thing we are to be exhorted to is to gâ—t if possible we may an assâ—ance that we shall escape this miserable condition that God hath not appoâ—uted us unto wrath but to obtain salvation by our Lord Iesus Christ And the best means to assure us of that is to be assured that we are not in the way If you can assure me that you goe nor the broad way of sin that leadeth to destruction I can assure you you shall never come to the place of destruction And if we can be assured we are appointed to salvation we may be sure we are not appointed to wrath And therefore herein for further satisfaction in this point we must refer and send you to the evidences of our assurance of salvation In the fourth place for application if it be so that hell be such a miserable place state and condition Let it be theâ— for the terrour and dread of al those men which upon the view of their own heaâ—ts and lives in the glasse before proposed to them finde themselves to be in the broad way to this misery to call upon them to fear to turn their laughter into mourning their joy into sorrow and to weep and howl for the miserie that shall come upon them doe you laugh now Oh wo to you that laugh now Luke 6. 25. For you shall mourn and weep Are you mâ—â—â—y now truly you have little cause were all well known your case is little otherwise then that of the devils who are delivered into chains of darknesse to be reserved unto Judgement 2 Pet. 2. 4. As condemned prisoners and malefactors they are shortly to be haled out to a dreadfull execution Are you consident and fearlesse truly it is marvell for the heavie wrath of the Almighty like a sharp sword by a small thread hangs over your heads and when this thread of your life breaks and it will break shortly then will it fâ—ll upon you to the uttermost And who shall be able to abide it Rev. 6. 17. Will you not fear him that hath the keyes of hell and death Matth. 10. 28. Fear him that when he hath killed the bodie can cast soul and bodie into hell 〈◊〉 fear him Ephes 2. 1. 2. 1 Tim. 5 6. Were it not so that you were spiritually dead twice dead and therefore senselesse and as it is that the god of this world hath blinded your eyes that you cannot see the things that belong to your peace Lukâ— 10. 42. you could not be so confident and secure as you are did you see but the least part of what is to come upon you shortly you would soon change your note and as Bâ—lshassar when he saw the hand writing upon the wall their countenance would be changed their thoughts would be troubled so that the joynts of their loyns would be loosed and their knees would smite one against another Oh that thou hadst known these things but now they are hid from thine eyes Luke 19. 42. Can thine heart endure or can thine hands be strong in the dayes that the Lord shall deal with thee Ezek. 12 14. When his wrath is kindled but a little O but a little blessed are they that trust in him Psal â—1 12. For who O Lord knoweth the power of thy anger the thunder of thy power who can understand Job 2â— 14. Even according to thy fear so is thy wrath Remember and forget not That the day of the Lord that great day and terrible day of the Lord is at hand the coming of the Lord Iesus draweth nigh That before this the Sun shall be turned into â—â—rknesse the moon shall not give hâ—r light the starres of heaven shall fall and the powers of heaven shall be shaken Matth. 24. 29. The heavens shall passe away with a noise the elements shall melt with fervent heat the earth with all the works thereof shall be burned up 2 Pet. 2. 10. Then shall come dayes or that great day or day of his wrath Rev. 6. 17. The day of judgement and destruction of ungodmen 2 Pet. 3. 7. When the dreadfull and glorious signe of the Son of man in heaven shall be seen Matth. 24. 30. The Lord Iesus Christ shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty Angels in flaming fire 2 Thess 1. 7. 8. And he shall come in the clouds of heaven and all his holy-Anggels with him with power and great glory Luke 9. 26. 〈◊〉 admired of al his saints 2 Thess 1. 10. and then the Lord shall descend from above with 〈◊〉 shoat and the trumpet that is first loud shril terrible trump the trumpet of God shall sound and the dead shall be raised 1 Thess 4. 16. 1 Cor. 15. 50. And all the kindreds and Tribes of the earth shall mourn Mat. 24. â—0 Because of him and shall hide themselves in the holes of the earth and they shall say to the mountains and the rocks fall on us and hide us from the presence of him that sitteth on the Throne and from the wrath of the Lambe for that gret day of his wrath is come and who shall