shall dye in your sins except ye repent ye shall all likewise perish If ye come not to me and close not with me upon Gospel-terms ye will live in your wounds and lie in your wounds and die in your wounds and be damned for your wounds How freely did Christ deal with the woman John 4.16 17 18. He said unto her Go call thy Husband and come hither The woman answered and said I have no Husband Jesus answered and said unto her Thou hast well said I have no Husband for thou hast had five Husbands and he whom thou now hast is not thy Husband in that didst thou say truly A good Physician must also have a Ladies hand A Physician must use the Patient gently and carry it towards the Patient tenderly Herein Christ also is incomparably qualified How tenderly did Christ carry it towards the Adulteress Woman not Adulteress John 8.10 11. Woman not Harlot Woman not Whore Woman Where are those thine Accusers Hath no man condemned thee She said No man Lord. And Jesus said unto her Neither do I condemn thee Go and sin no more Art actually in Christ Cordial XI M. Knox. In Adamo primo potuimus non mori in Adamo secundo non possimus mori Be joyous at last for the death of Him is the death of death unto His. Blessed saith one is their death who have part in the death of Jesus In Adam the first there was a possibility of living in Adam the second there is an impossibility of dying I have read of One who pretended that he had a Salve for every Sore a Medicine for every Malady and could cure all diseases but death Death the Mistress of Mortals was such a disease that he could not cure Death the Emperess of the Vniverse was such a disease that he could not cure But now the death of Christ will make a cure of death it will make a cure of a twofold death of the first and the second death The death of Christ disarms the first death Oh Death where is thy sting Oh Grave 1 Cor. 15.55 56 57. where is thy victory The sting of Death is Sin and the strength of Sin is the Law but thanks be to God that giveth us the victory thorough our Lord Jesus Christ The death of Christ is the death of this death unto a person actually in Christ it is to Him a stingless death it is to Him not a Foe but a Friend this person may look this death in the face and laugh Oh Death where is thy sting As if an honest man being set upon by an High-way man should disarm him and then say Where is thy Sword now Where is thy Pistol now The death of Christ prevents the second death Oh! what is the first to the second death The second death is eternal death Rev. 2.11 Who can dwell with devouring fire who can dwell with everlasting burnings Now those actually in Christ and overcoming thorough Christ shall not be hurt of the second death He or She that overcometh shall not not so the Greek be hurt of the second death But Soul art actually in Christ that thy Soul then may be filled with joy and peace like the water-pots of Galilee up to the very brim thorough believing be in a reflection of these two concluding words Art actually in Christ Then He will be thy Guide unto death For this God is our God but how long until Sin rise or Satan rage until there be a sliding foot or a backsliding heart until I be a Captive to Temptation without or Corruption within and I fear no longer mark the words For this God is our God for ever Psal 48.14 and ever he will be our Guide even unto death Art actually in Christ Then He will be thy Guide thorough death Luk. 23.43 To day shalt thou be with me in Paradise Was Socrates glad when his death approached because as he thought he should go to Homer Hesiod and other learned men whom he thought he should meet with in the other world How much more should they who live and dye in a Christ be filled with joy and peace that they shall go unto God and Christ that they shall go unto Angels and Apostles Drink now of the Brook by the way and lift up thy head for the death of Christ is the death of death Haec tria perpetuò meditare Adverbia Pauli Tit. 2.11 12. Haec tria sint Vitae regula sancta tuae HALE-LU-JAH POEMA MORTUALE OR AN ELEGY UPON DEATH THE LAW of NATURE AND TRIBUTE of MORTALS By R. M. No Poet nor the Son of a Poet. Dust Bodies are and unto Dust return Souls locked are not in a sable URN In Christo vixi morior vivamque perennè Gratia Christe mihi Gloria Christe Tibi Anno Praedicto 1679. I. The Prologue The Vale of the Author to the Reader AS with Hortensius 't is not with Me Unapt to write but apt to speak was He Nor do I with ALBERICUS compare Unapt to speak but apt to write his share For words or works their Genius rarely lay But haltingly do I go either way Death subject is a Cup full to the Brim An Ocean where Elephants may swim In POETRY I 'm learning but to spell Are Deeps exhausted with a Muscle-shell One was a Mute wise Cato being there Give fancy Vent Du-Bartas was not here This Poem now takes air our mortal Fate As to CONDOLE so to Congratulate Dost live to dye this shews a doleful state Dost dye to live this Dolour antiquate Is Truth the White let that Man never speed Who from the Issue censures of the Deed. Man may attempt all Men to please as soon As He that made a Vestment for the Moon To suit each interchange ah jugling Ape Dayes scarcely two She keepeth in a Shape Prose Poems too meet with a critick woùnd Some Faults will find besides Faults to be found Wing Momus then this Book is not for Thee And Zoilus take thy Flight as far as He. Art Notional 't was no Prophetick Brain Art Critical 't is no Poetick Strain But art Celestial here lies the STRESS Most lovely Truth shews in her native Dress Now Reader take taste eat but also wish 'T is Lordly Fare though in an earthen Dish II. The Description PAle Death the Subject is but what is Death From lifened dust but a departed Breath But is not Death so worthy Meditation An Essence No nor Substance but Privation There Beings are but Death no Being have No Creature 't is for Creatures 't is a Grave Death 's but a Fall which by a Fall invaded This Microcosm whereby he was degraded Some Persens are for Debts in PRISON laid This Debt pays Man though Man be left unpaid Man mortal is this Microcosmus must Strike Sail to Death and graved be in dust Life 's but a breathing Death a Tale that 's told He doth but live that liveth to be old A Vapor is man's
ἜΣΧΑΤΟΣ ἘΧΘΡΟΣ OR THE DEATH of DEATH IN THE DEATH of CHRIST BEING A NARRATIVE of the First DEATH as the MISTRESS of MORTALS and EMPRESS of the UNIVERSE Consisting of various Sections and Directions as appears by the Index in order to a holy LIVING and happy DYING By R. MAYHEW Minister of the Gospel Author of Love to the Life and the Paternal Gift â—ob 30.23 I know that thou wilt bring me to death and â—o the house appointed for all living Cor. 15.26.55 The last Enemy that shall be destroyed is Death O Death where is thy sting Nil sic revocat a peccato quam assidua Mortis meditatio Bern. Quis intelligit se quotidie mori Sen. LONDON Printed by Thomas Snowden for the Author in the Year 1679. TO THE Candid and Cordial READER Reader A Reflection of four things the Immutability of God the Mutability of the World the Immortality of the Soul and the Mortality of the Body have been alaruming unto this Essay and alluring this Narrative of pale Death the Mistress of Mortals and Emperess of the Vniverse To these distinctly The Immutability of God Man is mutable but God is immutable Mal. 3.6 I am Jehovah I change not therefore ye Sons of Jacob are not consumed The most of Men are mutable as the Moon which scarcely abideth two daies in a shape but God is immutable Under all the Changes that are made by Man yea under all the Changes that are made by God there are no Changes made in God He is the Father of Lights with whom is no variableness Jam. 1.17 neither shadow of turning He is the Father of Lights not of Light God is compared to the Sun but his Light is much perfecter The Sun is the Body of Light but God is the Father of Lights of all Light Aethereal Natural Spiritual Coelestial The firmamental Sun hath its Turnings and annual Departures from us it rise and set may be clouded and eclipsed but God in some sense riseth not setteth not Psal 145.18 departeth not He is nigh unto all them that call upon him unto all them that call upon him in truth There is not only no turning in God but also not so much as the Shadow of it nor the least Imagination of a Shadow The Mutability of the World The World is a Mass of Mutabilities every Man every State every Thing is as it were a Planet whose spherical Revolutions are some of a longer and some of a shorter continuance That Cardinal was an Atheist Cardinal as well a Papist who preferred his part in Paris to his part in Paradise The World is a Fools Paradise and its Motto is This Something is Nothing Hoc aliquid nihil Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not for riches certainly make themselves wings they fly away as an Eagle towards Heaven Prov. 23.5 Luther The whole Turkish Empire saith one is but a crum that the Master of the Family casts to a Dog Who but the Alexanders and Caesars of the World the Nebuchadnezzars and Nimrods of the World the Pharoahs 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Thes 6.17 and Pompeys of the World that have been ordinarily the Lords of the World Riches are uncertain Trust not in uncertain Riches In the Vncertainty of Riches Eccl. 5.10 so the Greek Riches are unsatisfying He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied therewith Pro. 11.4 nor he that loveth abundance with increase Riches are unprofiting Riches Aut deserunt aut deseruntur profit not in the day of wrath but Righteousness delivereth from death Riches either leave us or are left by us They are not Food but Fewel to Desire They are like Salt-water the more we drink Dulce Venenum Bern. the drier we are Riches are like the Apples of Sodom more in shew than in substance and if touched they crumble to sulphur Riches saith one are a sweet poison The World and the Soul must part or Christ and the Soul will not meet The two Poles will sooner meet than the Love of Christ and the Love of the World The Immortality of the Soul In this World the Body was first and then the Soul but in Heaven the Soul is first and then the Body Origen If the World saith one be the Book of God then the Soul is the Image of God Plato Another calls the Soul the Glass of the Trinity The Soul is worth more Worlds than this world hath Souls in it The Soul is precious The precious Sons of Sion Precious Sons Lam. 4.2 having precious Souls And as the Soul is precious so the Redemption of the Soul is precious Psal 49.8 Oh how highly did Christ prize it when his Veins were breathed and his Vitals let out to redeem it He became obedient to Death even the Death of the Cross Phil. 2.8 The Soul is the Breath of God the Beauty of Man the Wonder of Angels the Envy of Devils The Body is but the Cabinet the Soul is the Jewel and this is immortal Eccl. 12.7 Then shall the Dust that is the Body return to the Earth as it was and the Spirit that is the Soul unto God who gave it Christ and the converted Thief do go from Cross to Crown from Earth to Heaven To day shalt thou be with me in Paradise Luke 23.43 Mark 8.37 The loss of the Soul is a considerable loss a comprehensive loss an irreparable loss What can be given in Exchange for the Soul The Loss of the Soul is a kind of an infinite loss for it is the loss of an infinite God Psal 145.9 and this God a God of infinite Love The Lord is good to all and his tender mercies are over all his works The Soul is a Blossom of Eternity and hath a Stamp of Immortality Man hath a Soul Matth. 10.28 which Death it self despaireth how to kill Fear not them which kill the Body but are not able to kill the Soul The Mortality of the Body Man is Mortal and not a Match for Death Zach. 1.5 Our Fathers where are they and the Prophets do they live for ever To be a Man is to be a Sinner and to be a Sinner is to be Mortal As it is true what Man is he that liveth and sinneth not It is as true what Man is he that sinneth and dieth not What man is he that liveth and shall not see death shall he deliver his soul from the power of the grave Man is but a Wink of Life Psal 89.48 Oculus apertus oculus clausus The Heathens Emblem for Life was an eye open and for Death an eye shut as if there were no material difference between the living and the dying Job 30.23 but the Twinkling of an Eye Death is the Circumference of the Vniverse and every mans Line meet in this Circumference May not every Individual say as He did I know that thou wilt bring me
delight and desire Pag. 184. 1. Christ is the Object of thy delight Delight is unlawful and lawful 1. Vnlawful 'T is then unlawful when 't is 1. Sinful 2. Hypocritical 3. Treacherous 2. Lawful This is 1 Natural 2 Spiritual Thus 1. In the People of God 2. In the Commandments of God 3. In God himself Quest What manner of delight is this delight Pag. 186. Sol. 1. A Strong 2. A Holy 3. A cordial 4. A constant delight 2. Christ is the Object of thy desire This desire is 1 Natural 2 Spiritual That Christ is a Person without compare in a Christians eye and the Object of a Christians desire will appear by a reflection 1. Of his Person 1. As Man 2. As God-Man Pag. 188. 2. Of his Affection 1. In the freeness of it 2. In the fulness of it 3. In the firmness of it To this is superadded that Christ is the Churches 1. Mercy 2. Merit 3. Mine 4. Mirror Quest But what manner of desires are cordial desires Pag. 193. Sol. 1. Good 2. Lawful 3. Working 4. Constant 5. Holy 6. Hard. 7. Acquiescing Unto which three things are added 1. Whether cordial desires shall be answered 2. Why cordial desires shall be answered Because 1. Imposed 2. Promised 3. Encouraged There 's encouragement 1. Unto these desires 2. After these desires 3. How cordial desires shall be answered 1. In kind 2. In effect Cordial 10. Christ is the Physician of greatest value Quest But what manner of Physiician is Christ Pag. 200. Sol. 1. Choice 2. Costly 3. Cheap 4. Appointed 5. Approved 6. Loving 7. Living 8. Valuable 9. Sadden 10. Seasonable 11. Sutable 12. Incomparable Cordial 11. Art actually Christs Be joyous also for the Death of Him is the Death of His. Pag. 206. 1. Christ disarms the first Death 2. Christ prevents the second Death 1. He will be thy Guide unto Death 2. He will be thy Guide thorough Death THE DEATH of CHRIST THE DEATH of DEATH Section I. Whether there be a Natural or Corporal Death the Circumference of the Universe THE word Death is capable of a various Acceptation in the Sacred Scripture There is an Vniversal Death But of the tree of knowledg of Good and Evil thou shalt not eat Gen. 2.17 Moriendo morieris 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Obnoxius eris morti tum Corporis tum Animae Joh. 14.6 for in the day thou eatest thereof dying thou shalt die So the Hebrew and Junius Thou shalt surely and suddenly die so Ainsworth Thou shalt die the Death so the Septuagint Now this is if I mistake not both the first and the second Death so Pool in his Synopsis It is temporal and eternal Death together with the Causes Signs Antecedentes Consequents and Effects of it whatsoever so that all Dangers Difficulties and Deaths are implied in this Judgment threatned for Disobedience Dying thou shalt die That is thou shalt Die this way that way every way if Christ who is the Way the Truth and the Life interpose not between Thee and Death There is a Judicial Death He that believeth not is condemned already Joh. 3.18 because he believeth not in the Name of the only begotten Son of God The Man is under the Judgment before the Judgment the Man is already cast the Sentence is past 12 Verse of Judes Epistle only there is a suspension of the Execution We read in Jude of those who are Twice dead Dead spiritually for want of a principle of Life and dead judicially under the Wrath of God They were obnoxious to the first death by original corruption and obnoxious to the second death by actual transgression They were dead say one in respect of their natural Condition Jenkins in â—lo pool in loc Piscator and dead in respect of their final Declension Twice dead altogether dead They were obnoxious to the first Death by Nature and to the second Death by Sin These men were alive naturally Quest. though dead spiritually how then were they twice dead They were judged twice dead Sol. either Because a spiritual Death is so great a Death that it may well go for two Deaths One spiritual Death is worse than a thousand natural Deaths Or They are said to be twice dead because they were dead both in regard of an internal Habit of Grace Caryl in loc p. 553. and in regard of an external Act of Grace There is a spiritua Death This Death looks two waies To the Saint to the Sinner To the Saint Now the Saint is dead To the Law Thus he is dead To the Ceremonial Law If ye be dead with Christ from the Rudiments or Elements of the world Col. 2.20 A majore ad minus why as though living in the world are ye subject to Ordinances It is an Argument from the greater to the less Ye are freed from the Rites which God himself prescribed freed from worldly Philosophy or Judaical Ceremonies Pool in loc therefore freed from new Rites by men invented or from old Rites by humane Authority revoked as one saith upon the place To the Moral Law I through the Law am dead to the Law Gal. 2.19 that I might live to God I have no Commerce with the Law I through the Law of Faith am dead to the Law of Works I through the Law of Christ am dead to the Law of Moses That I might live to God that I might live according to the Precept of Christ live according to the Gospel of Christ The Saint is dead to the world God forbid that I should glory Gal. 6.14 Contemptus est a me save in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ by whom the world is crucified unto me and Romanus Fervor Furor I unto the world The Apostle here speaks of the World as Luther did of Rome I contemn the Heat and Fury of Rome Thus did the Apostle I contemn the world and the things thereof the world and the things therein The Saint is dead to Sin As to be dead in sin is the worst death so to be dead to sin is the best Death How shall we that are dead to sin Rom. 6.2 live any longer therein To be dead to sin is to be freed from the servitude of sin to have the Force and Power of sin killed It is a metaphor taken from Death because Death is the privation of Life and of Actions To the Sinner Now the Sinner is dead in sin As the Saint or Soul in Christ is dead to sin so the Sinner or Soul out of Christ is dead in sin And you who were dead in trespases and sins Ephes 2.1.5 Hath he quickened these words are not in the Greek The sense here is imperfect but this is supplied in a verse following Even when we were dead in sins hath quickened us together with Christ made alive together with Christ so the Greek What he had touched upon in the first verse he repeats in the fifth verse and
that to this end To shew the Generality of the Condition All naturally are dead dead in sin To shew the Certainty of it We may believe it and are not to be unbelieving about it To shew the Corruptibility of our Nature Though we are dead yea dead in sin yet it is connatural unto us to be unwilling to take notice of it There is an eternal Death Is the first Death so amazing so amusing what is the second Death then Is the first Death The King of terrours to a Christless Soul who then is able to say what the second Death is to this Soul There is the second Death as well as the first Death He or She that overcometh shall not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Rev. 2.11 not so the Greek be hurt of the second Death There is a twofold Death both of the Body and of the Soul The first Death of the Body is the Separation of the Soul the second Death of the Body is the Torment of Eternity There is also a twofold Death of the Soul 1 Separatio Animae The first Death of the Soul is Sin the second Death of the Soul is a casting out from the Face of God 2 Cruciatus aeterni and that for an Eternity Hell as some fancy is not Mount Aetna 1 Peccatum nor yet Purgatory according to the conceit of the blind and bloody Papist Hell must needs be a dismal place 2 Profectio à facie Dei in aeternum a Dungeon of Darkness for the Sun-shine of Gods presence never comes there To the damned saith one the Loss of Heaven is more grievous than the Torment of Hell Heaven and Hell are the greatest Opposites Estius Matth. 11.23 or remotest Extreams And thou Capernaum that art lifted up to Heaven shalt be thrown down to Hell The second Death is Hell and the punishment thereof the punishment of Sense and of Loss There is a corporal or natural Death Moses my servant Josh 1.2 is dead How great soever and good soever Moses was he is dead now he is gone off the Stage now he is gathered to his Fathers now he is gone into an Eternity now Moses is dead and God preach his Funeral Sermon Joh. 11.32 Moses my servant is dead Lord said Mary if thou hadst been here my Brother had not died This is natural or corporal Death which is the following Subject SECTION II. What this Natural or Corporal Death is which is the Circumference of the Vniverse BUT what is Natural Quest Sol. or Corporal Death I shall not pretend to a Definition which relate to the Nature and Essence but present a Description which relate to the Properties and Effects Natural Death Descriptio is the Deprivation of natural Life Death is no Essence nor Substance but Privation Death is the Disunion between the Soul and the Body A man then dies when the Body for a time and but for a time is separated from the Soul or the Soul takes leave of the Body Death is but departed Death from lifened Dust Thou hidest thy face they are troubled Psal 104.29 Mors a morsu which our first Parents tasted Isa 2.22 Mors a mora which yet tarrieth for us All. Gen. 35.18 Omne Ens est Bounm omne Ronum est Ens. thou takest away their breath they die and return unto their dust When our Breath goes out our Life goes out when we cease breathing we cease living our Breath going our Life goeth our Life is but a Breath but a Blast Mans Breath is in his nostrils God breathed into mans nostrils the breath of life Cease ye from man whose breath is in his nostrils for wherein is he to be accounted of Unless Breath goeth forth we die and Death is nothing else but a going forth of the Breath Life is a going forth of the Breath by Respiration and Death is a going forth of the Breath by Expiration It is said of Rachel And it came to pass as her soul was in departing for she died that she called his name Ben-oni that is The Son of my sorrow but his Father called him Benjamin that is The Son of the right hand God that made all things saw that all things which he made were very good Every Being is good and every Good is a Being therefore Lord saith one seeing thou hast not made Death suffer not that which thou hast not made to reign over that which thou hast made Death is a Fall August Omnes eramus ille unus Hemo Rom. 5.12 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which came by a Fall Adam sinning fell he falling all his posterity fell in him and with him It was not Man but Man-kind that fell By one man sin entred into the world and death by sin and so death passed upon all men in whom so the Greek all have sinned Nature when she was young caught a fall as Mephihosheth did whereof she hath halted ever since Breath departing is dying and departed Breath is Death Death is not a Creature but the Grave of Creatures Jam. 1.15 Who ever was the Father of Death Sin was the Mother of Death if the Apostle may be credited Sin when it is finished bringeth forth death The first and the second Death are the products of sin Sin Lex naturae Tributurn mortalium Plato Visibile Verbum is that unhappy Womb that have been productive of the first and second Death Death as one calls it is the Law of Nature and Tribute of Mortals It is the municipal Law of the Earth to die once of Heaven to live for ever of Hell to die for ever We may call Death a Visible Word I am writing of natural Death it is as natural to die as to live yet when we say a man dies naturally we seem to speak improperly for a Man dies not as a Beast dies through the Annihilation of Nature but from the Appointment of God It is once appointed unto man to die Heb. 9.27 and after death the Judgment The word once say some is not to be referred to die as if there were some suspition that man could die twice but the word once is referred to appoint it was once appointed and that once shall stand It is enough that God hath once appointed Death but after this the Judgment Some understand this of a particular Judgment which God passeth upon the Soul immediately after death but if I mistake not we may with once interpret it of the general Judgment Estius Pool in loc which will be a solemn Promulgation and total Execution of the Sentence Once for All. SECTION III. Whether Natural or Corporal Death be the Circumference of the Vniverse DEath is the Circumference of the Vniverse Death's Motto is Nulli cedo and every mans Line meet in this Circumference To be a Man is to be mortal for to be a Man is to be a Sinner To be unwilling to die is to
at the Being of God Sin would not only un-saint a Saint Psa 137.7 but also unchrist a Christ if it were possible Remember Oh Lord the children of Edom in the day of Jerusalem who said rase it rase it even to the Foundation thereof As it is true in a Physical so in a Metaphysical sense what would not Sinners do against the Fabrick and the Foundation too against the Christian and Christ too Sin would un-god a God if it were possible Is not this the Dialect of Sinners Cause the holy one of Israel to cease from before us Isa 30.11 If now we would prepare for death we must then imbitter Sin and if we would imbitter Sin we must then look upon Sin as a cursed Inmate and as a cursed Makebate Would ye imbitter Sin Look then upon Sin as a cursed Inmate Rom. 7.17 20. Reliquiae peccati Though Sin had not a Being from God yet it hath a Being in Man But Sin that dwelleth in me Though Sin for a Believer be perfectly covered yet Sin in a Believer is not perfectly cured there are still the remainders of Sin within which must be mourned over and turned from Would ye imbitter Sin Look also upon Sin as a cursed Makebate It is so between God and Man between Man and Man between Man and Himself Sin is a Makebate between God and Man God and Man at first were One but Sin hath made these Two Sin hath set God at an infinite distance from Man and Man at an infinite distance from God Isa 59.2 Your iniquities have separated between you and your God and your Sins have hid his face from you that he will not hear Sin is a Makebate between Man and Man There was War between Jeroboam and Rehoboam all their daies From whence come all those animosities differences discords and distances among Men come they not from their Sin As Sin is the Makebate between the Men of the World Benhadad and Ahab were two 1 Kings 20.1 2. 1 Joh. 3.12 And as Sin is the Makebate between the Wicked and the Righteous Cain rose up against his brother Abel and slew him because his own works were evil and his brothers righteous So Sin is the Makebate between the righteous themselves From whence come Wars and fightings among you Jam. 4.1 come they not hence even of your lusts which war in your members Sin is a Makebate between Man and Himself None can Sin at a cheap rate How dear do the dead who died out of Christ pay for Sin The damned pay dear for Sin How dear have Sin cost the living Yea those who had Christ for their Life witness Bilney Glover and Spira who for a time upon Earth were like living men in Hell Psal 6.6 Margent May David though dead speak I am weary of my groaning all the night or every night make I my bed to swim I water my couch with my teares Oh the fears and tears that Sin hath cost Psal 38.3 I have no soundness in my flesh why because of thine anger neither have I any peace for my bones why because of my Sin Oh the sorrows and sufferings the Tryals and Troubles that Sin hath cost Oh the wearisome Daies and Nights the Pains of Body and Pangs of Soul that Sin hath cost If now we would prepare for death we must imbitter this Sin which is such an Inmate and Makebate Would ye prepare for Death Endear then Grace and Glory Eternal life is made up of Grace and Glory but to these distinctly Endear through Christ Grace Grace is not a Pebble but a Pearl Oh set a greater Estimate upon Grace Lay up and lock up this Pearl in thy Cabinet for it is of great price The Toyaz of Ethiopia and the Riches of both the Indies are but a Pebble to this Pearl Grace in God Yea Grace from God is a Pearl Grace entitles Glory Without holiness no man shall see the Lord. Heb. 12.14 Joh. 4.14 Grace entails Glory The water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life One dram of Grace is worth a world a thousand worlds tenthousand worlds if there were so many Grace is of such worth as that it cannot be valued to its worth Grace will go into Glory when Time goes into Eternity and is not this to be endeared If there be any Discourse in Heaven as there is upon Earth it is a discourse of free-grace not of free-will The two Poles will as soon meet as free-will and free-grace in the justification of a Sinner before God Grace is so pure that there is no sin in it As there is no Grace in Sin so there is no Sin in Grace The Heart that is the Soil Grace 1 Pet. 1.23 that is the Seed and this is incorruptible And as Grace from God is so pure that there is no Sin in it so Grace in God is so precious that the stress of salvation is laid upon it By grace ye are saved Is not this a blessed Parenthesis without which we cannot be blessed The whole Alphabet of Salvation from the Alpha to the Omega thereof is legible in free-grace By grace ye are saved The bottom-stone Gratia nòn est gratia ullo modo nisi sit gratuita omni modo Aug. 1 Cor. 15.10 coner-stone and top-stone of Salvation they are all laid in free-grace It is Grace saith one no way unless free every way Every step in Salvation from the Cell of Nature to the Chair in Glory is of free-grace now shall not this grace be endeared By the grace of God I am that I am By Sin I was what I was but by Grace I am that I am I am what I am May it not now be the wonder of the world if those who are gracious should not be found endearing of Grace Endear through Christ Glory As the more ye endear Grace so the more ye endear Glory the more ye prepare for Death The Life of Glory is the grace of Life Greenham There is saith one a huge and heavy weight of Glory Glory from God is the Object of Hope and Glory with God is the Object of Hope Tit. 1.2 In hope of eternal life which God that cannot lie promised before the world began As the Person of Christ is the Object of Faith Rom. 3.26 Col. 1.4 That he might be just and the justifier of him that believ thin Jesus And as persons in Christ are the Objects of Love Since we heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and love unto all the Saints Rom. 5.2 So Heaven is the Object of Hope And rejoyce in hope of the Glory of God In hope of eternal life now eternal life is made up of Grace and Glory Life would be little better than Hell were it not for the hopes of Heaven I had rather saith one enjoy Christ in a Chimney-corner Bernard than to be in
but also for ever gone I am left by a God and it is better to be left by all the world than to be left by God But Soul there is that laid and lodged in the Promise that will weigh down this Fear Is there such another Promise which according to the Greek for there are five Negatives in it may be read thus For he hath said I will not Heb. 13.5 not leave thee I will never not not forsake thee May not now the preciousness of the Promise be read in the geatness of it Divine Promises they are greater than a Believers Faith Faith if I may so write is mighty and can do mighty things What cannot Faith do Faith can do more than Force As it is true to believe is very difficult it is as true unto him that believeth all things are possible Heb. 11.30 33 34 35 36 37. Read but that Scriptural Martyrology which is the Book Martyrs epitomized and there you may find the noble Acts of Faith It is Faith that overcometh the world This is the victory that overcometh the world 1 Joh. 5.4 even our Faith Yea it is Faith that maketh a Conquest upon the God of this world Resist the Devil Jam. 4.7 and he will flee from you But how shall he be resisted In the Faith Whom resist stedfast in the Faith 1 Pet. 5.9 Oh the mighty power of Faith But I dare assert that you are not to take the Act of Faith without Christ the Object of Faith What can the Instrument do without the Hand Indeed the Faith of Believers can do much but Faith can do nothing unless it be laid in the Bosom and Bowels of the Promise Abrahams Faith was exceeding great He was very gray and so was his Consort but what made his Faith so strong He had the promise of a strong God and this gave strength to his Faith He staggered not at the promiso through unbelief Rom. 4.19 20 21. but was strong in Faith giving glory to God And being fully perswaded that what he had promised he was able also to perform Is there not now a greatness in the Promise and is not the preciousness of it legible in the greatness of it Divine Promises they are greater than a Believers Corruptions Consider the evil of Sin and that will appear to be exceeding great Sin hath Evil all Evil and nothing but Evil in it Sin is only evil altogether evil alway evil Rom. 7.13 That sin by the Commandment might become exceeding sinful or that Sin by the Commandment 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 might become hyperbolically sinful or that Sin by the Commandment might become a Sinner to a wonder a Sinner above wonder beyond comparison Sin is a darkening of the Glory of God a defacing of the Image of God a crucifying of the Son of God a grieving of the Spirit of God and a wroâ—ging of the Soul of man There is Evil enough in Sin to undo all the world Is not Sin the cry of the damned in Hell and should not Sin be the cry of the dead upon Earth Is there not a world of Sin within Thee and within Me yea a world of Sin within Thee and within Me not yet seen by Thee and by Me Now though Sin be so great an Evil that nothing is so great yet the Greatness and Goodness of God wrapped up in the Promise Isa 1.18 is greater than Sin Though your sins be as Scarlet they shall be white as Snow and though they be red like Crimson they shall be as Wooll This Promise is great and precious as well as great Divine Promises they are as great as divine Commands The Commands of God are great exceeding great Acts 16.31 Is not Faith a great Command Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ Spira sound it so who said Ye call upon me to believe I tell you I cannot believe Oh! how fain would I believe but I cannot It is as possible to keep the Moral Law as to believe for it is natural to work for Life but supernatural to believe for Life Faith is a great work Joh. 6.29 but now he that wills it works it This is the work of God that ye believe in him whom he hath sent Faith is the work the work that God esteemeth in stead of all works But Faith is not only a work so esteemed by God Col. 2.12 but it is also the work of God It is called a Faith of the Operation of God God commands the making of a new heart and a new spirit and might he not as well have commanded the making of a new Heaven Ezek. 18.31 and a new Earth Make ye a new heart and a new spirit for why will ye die oh house of Israel But what God commands his to do in one place he promiseth to do for his in another place Ezek. 36.26 27. A new heart will I give you and a new spirit will I put within you and I will cause you to walk in my Statutes and ye shall keep my Judgments and do them I will give you Legs and lead you too I will habituate the Soul with Grace and actuate Grace in the Soul and for the Soul As the Habit so the Act of Grace shall be from me May not now the preciousness of the Promise be read in the greatness of it Divine Promises are as great if not greater than Divine Threatnings Hath God threatned the Vnbeliever with Darkness and Death He hath promised to the Believer light and life Rom. 5.21 Hath God threatned the Vnbeliever with Damnation he hath promised unto the Believer Salvation Doth Sin reign unto Death the second Death Grace reigns thorough righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord. Is the wages of Sin Death the first and the second Death all manner of Deaths the portion of a Christless Soul is nothing else but Death Rom. 6.23 Exod. 20.5 6. his whole estate lies in the valley of the shadow of death But now though the stipend of sin be death yet the gift of God is eternal life thorough Jesus Christ our Lord. Hath God visited Iniquity to the third and fourth Generation He sheweth mercy unto thousands of Generations May not now the preciousness of the Promise be read in the greatness of it Jer. 10.6 Divine Promises they are like unto God Himself God is great exceeding great There is none like unto thee Jehovah thou art great and thy name is great in might Now whatever is great in God he hath made it over by promise unto Believers Take a Taste His Power The Lord can do whatsoever he will though he will not dâ— whatsoever he can His Power hath no Patent but â—s Pleasure Power belongeth to God God is as much acted in making a Flie as in making an Elephant The Power of God is greater than the power of Sin Nah. 1.3 than the power of Men than the power
Heaven and must be the way for his also By his own blood Heb. 9.12 he once entered into the holy place having obtained eternal redemption for us The spurious spawn of the Papists are under a prodigious mistake who say That Heaven is not that place where the Man Christ is above or beyond the visible Skies but the happiness they have within them If Israel according to the flesh passed thorough the Red Sea unto Canaan as Type so Israel according to the Spirit must pass thorough the Red Sea of Christs blood Heb. 10.19 unto Heaven the Antitype Having therefore brethren boldness to enter into the holiest but how by the blood of Jesus Our Sins did shut Heaven but Christs blood is the Key that opens the Gate of Paradise for us Christ's blood is pacifying blood Christs bleeding was Gods pacifying Christ's blood Col. 1.21 22. is the blood of Atonement You hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh thorough death Christ's blood is not onely a Sacrifice but also a Propitiation denoting a bringing us into favour with God It is one thing for a Traytor to be pardoned and another thing for this Traytor to be brought into favour Mans sin rent him from God but Christ's blood Rom. 5.10 cements him to God Reconciled to God but how by the death of his Son Had we as much Grace as the Angels had we offered up millions of Sacrifices had we wept Rivers of Tears we could never have appeased an angry Deity It is the blood of a Christ that ingratiates us into the favour of God and causeth him to look upon us with a smiling Aspect When Christ dyed the vail of the Temple was rent This was not without a mystery shewing that thorough Christ's blood the vail of our sins is rent which did interpose between God and us One Theodoret. calls the Cross the Tree of Salvation because the blood which trickled down the Cross distilleth Salvation It is the blood of Christ that pacifies Christ's blood is conquering blood After the Combat and the Conflict is the Conquest Nay in all these things Rom. 8.37 we are more than Conquerors thorough Christ that loved us These things but what things were these There were seven Dishes and each Dish enough for the strongest Palate Tribulation Distress Rom. 8.35 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Persecution Famine Nakedness Peril Sword yet in all these things we are more than Conquerors We over-overcome so the Greek We are more than Conquerors in them because we are Conquerors by them But how is this thorough Christ. Though Christians may be killed yet they cannot be conquered for though they die in the Combat yet like Sampson they shall have the Conquest The Conquest that the Christian hath is thorough Christ's blood They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb Rev. 12.11 and by the word of their testimony and they loved not their lives unto the death Conquest is thorough Christ Christ's blood is crucifying blood A Christ bleeding to death will bleed sin to death They that are Christs Gal. 5.24 have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts As that Physick saves a mans life which removes his sickness so that which is life to the soul is death to the sin We must look upon our sin as that which was the death of our Lord and we must look upon the death of our Lord as that which will be the death of our sin Our old man is crucified with him Rom. 6.6 that the body of sin might be destroyed Sin drew out the life-blood of Christ and faith in Christ's blood will draw out the life-blood of sin Christ's blood is softening blood Though the heart of man be the hardest thing in the world yet the blood of Christ God-man can soften the heart of man Oh says one my heart is like the nether milstone and what can soften that Oh says another my heart is like an Adamant and what can soften an Adamant Is there any thing in the world that can soften an Adamant Yea Soul blood will soften an Adamant The blood of Christ if applied will soften the most Adamantine heart The blood of Christ if applied can dissolve the most stony heart and break the hardest sinner The Jews who are hardened to a Proverb for one saith Dost thou think that I am a hard-hearted Jew these Jews shall have the Rock of their Hearts turned into a Fountain of Tears Zech. 12.10 They shall look upon him whom they have pierced and mourn as one for his onely Son and be in bitterness as one for his first-born God himself hath laid himself under Promise to take away the stony heart and to give an heart of flesh Ezek. 11.19 There is nothing so hard but it may be softened if it lay a steeping in this blood Water will soften the earth but it will not soften a stone the blood of Christ if applied will soften a stone yea an heart of stone This blood turns a flint into a spring The Jaylors heart was dissolved Christ's blood is quickning blood The life of a thing is in the blood The life of the flesh Lev. 17.11 is in the blood and I have given it to you upon the Altar to make an atonement for your sins for it is the blood that maketh atonement for the soul The blood is called life because the seat of life is in the blood and this was a figure of Christ a Type of Christ's life whose flesh is meat indeed and whose blood is drink indeed The life of our soul Sanguis Christi Clavis Coeli Luther is in the blood of Christ Christ's blood is Heaven's Key One little drop saith One of Christ's blood is more worth than Heaven and Earth What is the blood of a Grape yea what is the blood of a Son though an onely Son to the blood of a Saviour Can we give our first-born for our iniquity the seed of our body for the sin of our soul It is the blood of Christ that quickeneth John 6.53 54. Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood ye have no life in you whoso eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood hath eternal life and I will raise him up at the last day Christ's blood puts vivacity into us Christ's blood is justifying blood Justification â—s a great thing to be acquitted from sin and death the wages thereof and to be accounted righteous unto life and Glory the Reward thereof is not this a great thing and yet this is by Christs blood The moving cause of Justification is the free Grace of God but the meritorious cause of Justification is the blood of Christ Being justified freely by his Grace Rom. 3.24 thorough the redemption that is in Christ Jesus The justification of one sinner is more than the creation of all the world There are many not onely in Italy but also in England who
be Hence the Body of man is called vile 1 Cor. 15.47 Who shall change our vile body and make it like his glorious body The Body of the first Adamâ— was formed out of the Earth and is said to be of the earth earthy And as in the first Body so in the bodies of all men Earth is the predominant element our bodies are vile the chief Ingredient oâ— their mixture being the Earth which comparatively to those higher and nobler elements is but vile Gen. 18.27 Abraham writes himself Dust and Ashes Dust is Earth made by the Heat of the Sun Ashâ—s Earth made by the Heat of the Fire They Amos 6.4 who now lye upon beds of Ivory must lye down in a bed of Earth and rest their Heads upon a pillow of Dust. Most sleep in the Dust while they live but all must sleep in the Dust when they die He only who hath laid up his Heart in Heaven Eccl. 12.7 can comfortably think of laying down his Head in the Dust Then shall the Dust the Body return unto the earth as it was and the Spirit the Soul unto God who gave it Mans Body is Dust materially while he lives and Dust formally when he is dead God hath appointed Death Reas 3. Heb. 9.27 Ps 31.15 therefore Man is mortal and must die 'T is once appointed for Man to die and 't is enough that it is appointed once As the Statute is past that Man must die so how long he shall live and when he shall die Isa 57.15 My times are in thy hand He who inhabits eternity is also the Lord of Time Some live as if they were Masters of Time and could appoint out their own Term Isa 28.15 as if they had made a Covenant with the Grave and an Agreement with Death they speak as if their Tongues and their Time were their own To morrow shall be as this day Isa 56.12 and much more abundant That rich Caitiff looked upon his Time as his own Soul take thine ease Luk. 12.19 20. thou hast goods laid up for many years but God said Thou Fool this night shall thy soul be required of thee The Psalmist doth not speak himself the Master but the Servant of Time My times are in thy hand That is all my Times my times of Health or Sickness of Joy or Sorrow of Truth or Triumph of Light or Darkness of Life or Death all my times are in thy hand It is well that our Times are in Gods hands Man is not wise enough to use the Time that God sets him much less is he wise enough to set his own Time God appoints Death all manner of Deaths Jer. 15.2 3. four kinds of Deaths saith the Prophet Death is Heavens Statute and who can reverse that was not that to be reversed by man Esth 8.8 that was sealed with the Kings Ring Who then can reverse Death the Law of Nature the Statute of Mortals the Circumference of the Vniverse Death is the House appointed for all living Job 30.23 Job 19.25 I know that thou wilt bring me to death and to the house appointed for all living As I know that my Redeemer liveth so I know assuredly know that I shall die and go to the Grave of Silence Death bring us back to what we once were and shew us what we are It is true as I have written that some have lived and not died and that some shall live and not die yet those few Exceptions do not infirm but rather confirm the Truth of the general Rule which is That all must die because none escape but upon some special Exception Death is called a Change If a man die Job 14.14 shall he live again All the daies of my appointed time will I wait until my change come Death is natural but we die by a Law we die by Apointment the house appointed for all living Some say of Malefactors who are put to death for crimes against the Law that They are slain by the Law We may say of every man He is slain by a Law the house appointed for all living Thou turnest man to destruction Psal 90.3 that is to Death the destruction of all men as to their corporeal constitutions and external enjoyments But what then And sayest Return ye children of men God having turned man to Death saith presently Return ye children of men That is go back into what ye were return to the Dust. SECT V. The Brevity of Life IF the first Death Fui nihil amplius be the Mistress of Mortals and the Empress of the Vniverse reflect then the Brevity of Life I have been and that is all said Saladine the Great who was Conquerour of the East The longest liver hath but a handfull of Daies and Life it self is but a Circle alwaies beginning where it ends Dan. 7.9 Hodiè mihi crà s Tibi With the Ancient of Days there are no Days and Time will be when Time shall no more be The Child born in the morning is old enough to die before night To Dâ—â— to Me to Morrow to Thee is Deaths Motto When Jacob was asked by Pharoah How old art thou or according to the Margent How many are the daies of the years of thy life Gen. 47.8 9. His answer was Few and evil have the daies of the years of my life been c. A great Physician say that Art is long Life is short Ars longa Vita brevis Hippocrares Oculus apertus clausus Job 14.1 Margent The Heathens Emblem for Life was an Eye open and for Death an Eye shut as if there were no other difference between the living and the dying but the Twinkling of an Eye Man that is born of a woman is of few daies and full of trouble Job scarce thinks Himself worth the naming who doth not speak of himself in his own name Man that is born of a woman But what of this man he is of few daies short of daies and full of trouble Few daies and many troubles make up the Character of Man We use to say short and sweet Multum in parvo but here it is short and sewre yea short and bitter As some speak Much in a Little much matter in a little Discourse And as some do Much with a Little much Good with a little Talent so all suffer Much in a Little much Trouble in a little Time many Sorrows in a few Daies The daies of man are few compared with the daies that man lived before the Flood then man lived to six seven eight nine hundred almost a thousand years They are few also compared to the daies of God As the daies of God cannot be counted because they are so many so the daies of Man can scarcely be counted because they are so few Psa 39.5 Mine Age says the Psalmist is as nothing before Thee All Time is as Nothing compared to Eternity what a
Nothing then is the Age of one Man unto Eternity Some things created and finite are so great above others that they are nothing unto them What is the Ant unto the Elephant what is the Shrimp to the Whale what is the whole body of the Earth to the body of the Heavens It is but a point say Naturalists As one part of the Earth is but a point to the whole and the whole Earth but a point to the Heavens so one part of Time is but a moment to all Time and all Time is but a moment to Eternity especially to the Eternity of God What is Finite unto Infinite The Brevity of mans life will yet appear beyond all modest contradiction by the expressions wherewith it is cloathed by the metaphors wherein it is emblemed and by the Things whereunto it is compared For instance The Life of Man is compared to a Weavers Shuttle Job 7.6 My daies are swifter than a Weavers Shuttle A Weavers Shuttle is an Instrument of a very swift and sudden Motion this passeth the Loom or Web with such speed that it is grown to a Proverb for all things quick and transient The Life of Man is compared to an Hand-breadth Psal 39.5 Thou hast made my daies as an Hand-breadth That is not long which is no longer than the Breadth of an Hand not long in the largest Extent The Life of Man is compared to a Tale that is told Psal 90.9 We spend our daies as a tale that is told That is suddenly and swiftly A Discourse from the mouth especially in the mind out-runs the Sun as much as the Sun out-runs the Snail The Thoughts of a Man will travel the world over in a moment The Life of Man is compared to a Vapour What is our Life Jam. 4.14 it is even as a Vapour which for a while appeareth and then vanisheth away Though all a man hath is short of Life yet this Life of Man soon evaporates and expires SECT VI. The Certainty of Death OUR Bodies are but living Graves no sooner did we begin to live but we began to die and continue dying until we be swallowed up of Death As every Man had his Genesis his beginning or comming into this world so every Man shall have his Exodus his ending or going out of the world 1 Chr. 29.28 Oh soul flatter not thy self and thy soul with an undiable state David was a man after Gods own heart and yet concerning him it is said That he died Though he lived to a good old age full of daies riches and honour yet he died and Solomon his Son reigned in his stead Anaxagoras Scio me genuisse mortalem Deaths seisure is without surrender and from her sentence there is no Appeal When News arrived at one concerning the death of his only Son he seemed not to be over-concerned but to reply without Regret I know that he was begotten mortal I know the Son is mortal as well as the Father Gen. 5.5 8 11 14 17 20 27 31. Those long-livers recorded in the sacred Scripture and transmitted to posterity died They lived long but they did not out-live Death They lived long in the world but at last they left the world They lived long but a day came when they could not live a day longer Death is the obscurest thing in the world The Grave is a gloomy place and filled not only with natural but also with metaphorical Darkness SECT VII The Vncertainty of the Time of Death THough Death be certain yet the Time of Death is uncertain Death is certain but the Day or Hour of Death is uncertain Little did Julian think that Death had been at the Door before he was wounded by an unknown hand Vicisti Galilaee vieisti 1 Kings 22.27 1 Sam. 15.32 33. and blasphemed Thou hast overcome oh Galilaean Thou hast overcome Little did Ahab think that the day of Death had been so near dawning when he gave in charge concerning Micaiah Put this fellow in the Prison and feed him with the bread of Affliction and with the water of Affliction until I come in peace Little did Agag think of being hewed in pieces before the Lord in Gilgal when he said Surely the bitterness of death is past Pharoah stood upon even ground with God little thinking Exod. 5.2 Exod. 14.27 Isa 36.13 that the Sea should be his Sepulchre when he said Who is the Lord that I should obey his voice to let Israel go I know not the Lord neither will I let Israel go Little did Sennacherib think that he stood upon the Brink of Eternity Isa 37.38 when these words were spoken by his servant Hear ye the words of the great King the King of Assyria when he seemed to stand upon higher ground than God Little also did Herod the Mount of Pride according to his name think Acts 12.21 22. that his Grave had been digging when he so charmed his Auditory with his Oratory that they gave a shout It is the voice of a God and not of man The Manner and Time of Death is uncertain Some indeed have predicted the Manner of their Death thus Ridley that he should be burned and not drowned Thus Jewel he long before his Sickness predicted the Approach of it And in his Sickness predicted the precise day of his Death But this is rare very rare What is prayable Object 1. is attainable but the knowledge of the length of life is prayable To pray for a Physical Sol. or Literal knowledge of our End that is what Year or Day our Lives shall end Caryl Vol. 1. p. 355. is a sinful Curiosity and presumptuous Intrusion into the secret Will of God but to pray for a metaphysical or spiritual knowledge of our End that is how we may end any day of the year or hour of the day in an holy Duty and humble submission of our selves to the revealed Will of God this is warrantable But Obj. 2. Isa 38.5 Hezekiah had fifteen years added to his daies and therefore he knew how long he should live and when he should die This Sol. is such a Favour as that we read not of the like indulged any other of Gods Servants though very high in Favour with him This Great and Good King is indulged and assured a Lease of his Life fifteen years longer well now may this be ushered in with a Note of Attention and serious Consideration Behold I will add unto his daies fifteen years It is sealed also being an unusual Grant with an unusual Miracle Behold I will bring again the shadow of the degrees Isa 38.8 which is gone down in the Sun-dial of Ahaz ten degrees backward so the Sun returned ten degrees by which degrees it was gone down As we are to reflect the Brevity of Life the children of men being many times of as short a continuance as Jonahs Gourd which came up in a night and perished in a
death of his Saints If a Christian of Christs making goes bleeding to Heaven or burning to Heaven if he lays down his Blood on this side the Grave this goes near the heart of God Art out of Christ Direct 3. tremble then for in a moment thou mayest die and be damned too They spend their time in mirth Job 21.13 Anxius vixi dubius morior Oh ens entium miserere mihi Sed c. Arist Job 18.14 Caryl in loc and in a momeut go down to the grave Death by the Philosopher is called of all formidable things the most terrible These were some of the last words of that great Philosopher I have lived anxiously I die doubtfully Oh Being of Beings have mercy upon me but now it is too late for me to call for mercy Death is called by Bildad the King of Terrors This is a very strange Title We have read of many Titles which have been given the Kings of the Earth as most Serene most Christian most Sacred c. but if at all rarely of such a Title as this King of Terrors For a man to be brought to the King of Terrors is for a man to be brought to death or to his last end The Philosopher in this sense called Death the King of Terrors when he called it the most terrible of terrible things Death is terrible upon a threefold consideration Antecedents Nature Consequents Death is terrible if we consider the Antecedents of it 2 King 4.18 19 20. The Forerunners or Harbingers of Death are Pains Diseases Sicknesses and these are terrible The Shunamites Son was taken sick when he was with the Reapers crying to his Father My Head my Head being carried home he sate on his Mothers knees until noon and then died Death is terrible if we consider the Nature of it Death Mors Sceptra Ligonibus aequa is a Disunion All Disunions are troublesom but some are terrible Death according to the Poet is the greatest Leveller in the world Death levels Scepters and Plow-shares it makes all alike The Disunion that Death makes between Husband and Wife is terrible but Death makes a Disunion between them that are nearer than Husband and Wife even between Soul and Body Eccl. 12.7 Husband and Wife are one flesh but Soul and Body are one person Then shall the Dust the Body return to the Earth as it was and the Spirit the Soul unto God Death is terrible if we reflect the consequents of it I have said to corruption thou art my Father Job 17.14 Nativitas mala Vita pejor mors pessima and to the Worm thou art my Mother and my Sister Now soul art out of Christ what is thy Death then like to be It may be said of a person living and dying out of Christ that his Birth is bad his Life is worse his Death is worst of all Some are so sick that they cannot live and yet so sinful that they cannot die their Cry is Oh Lord we cannot die Oh Lord we must not die O Lord we dare not die Oh Lord we will not die Rev. 9.6 We read of some that shall seek death but shall not find it and shall desire to die and death shall flee from them Others there are that Death seek but they would not be found and that Death desire to have but they flee from it A great person hearing the Verdict which the Physicians brought in against him that he must die cryed out Let me live though it be the Life of a Toad under a Threshold Art out of Christ tremble then and realize a state of Death Do not only read of Death but also realize Death Do not look upon Death as a Physical Notion and a Mathematical Conclusion be much in the reflection of this Text and Truth Luk. 16.22 23. It came to pass that the Beggar died and was carried by the Angels into Abrahams bosom the Rich man also died and was buried and in Hell he lifted up his eyes being in torment Here is Death and Damnation too Thou mayest die and be damned too Art out of Christ go then to Christ Direct 4. in whose Death is the Death of Death To be Christless is to be Godless to be Graceless to be Gloryless go then to Christ Art in a state of Sin go then to Christ for Grace Art in a state of Darkness go then to Christ for Light Art in a state of Death go then to Christ for Life Art in a state of Damnation go then to Christ for Salvation Isa 53.3 Encline your ear and come unto me hear and your souls shall live Paul was a great Orator a great part of his Oratory was to perswade men to come to Christ and be saved He that winneth souls is wise Art Christless and Godless Graceless and Spiritless May not I say to thee with the Alteration of a word Acts 13.36 as was said to the stock of Abraham To thee is the word of this salvation sent But there is a Lion in the way an Adder in the path But what is this comming to Christ Quest 1. this going to Christ A comming Sol. Joh. 6.40 or going to Christ is a believing in Christ As Faith is the Souls Eye He that seeth the Son and believeth on him hath eternal life And as Faith is the Souls mouth Joh. 6.54 Whoso eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood hath eternal life And as Faith is the Souls Ear Joh. 5.24 He that heareth my Word and believeth on him that sent me And as Faith is the Souls Hand Joh. 1.12 To as many as received him to them gave he priviledge to become the Sons of God even to them that believe on his Name So Faith is the Souls Foot Joh. 6.35 He that cometh to me shall never hunger and he that believeth on me shall never thirst But Quest 2. is there an indispensible Necessity of going to Christ for Salvation Can Salvation be had no where else Is he not only a Saviour but also the Saviour That Christ is a Saviour Sol. Luk. 2.11 is evident Vnto you is born this day in the City of David a Saviour which is Christ the Lord. That Christ also is the Saviour is as evident Now we believe not because of thy words Joh. 4.42 for we have heard him our selves and know that this is indeed the Christ the Saviour of the world I remember the time when if I could have gone to Heaven by my Education Civility Forms of Prayer of mine own making or by my Fathers Copy I would not have made use of Christ but at last I found that there was Salvation in no other Act. 4.12 Isa 51.12 and sailing by the gates of Hell in my apprehension I also found that no Voice but the Voice of Christ would still the Voice of Desperation There is no Paradise without this Tree no Light without this Sun no God no
Tecelius the first part of Clark's Eccl. Hist p. 227. and a plural mercy It was Christ that said to the Palsical man Thy sins are forginen thee The Popes pardon is not worth a penny whatsoever that John thought who bringing Indulgences into Germany to be sold said that he had so large a Commission from the Pope that though a man had deflowred the blessed Virgin yet for money he could pardon his sin The pardon of sin is a great thing what would not a condemned Malefactor give for a pardon No voice but the voice of Christ will still the voice of Desperation It was Christ that said to the City-Sinner Thy sins are forgiven Luk. 7.48 The barbarous and murderous Papists say that a doubting of the pardon of sin is not an Infirmity but a Vertue But hath not doubting cost the soul dear Now Christ in a fourfold respect pardons sin Christ pardons sin in respect of his Deity Christ is God Mark 2.7 and therefore pardoneth Who can forgive sins but God only Christ pardons sin in respect of his Dignity Christ is exalted and therefore pardoneth Him hath God exalted with his right hand Act. 5.31 to be a Prince and a Saviour to give repentance unto Israel and forgiveness of sins There have been many Princes besides Christ but never was there a Saviour besides Christ that could give repentance and remission of sin Christ pardons sin in respect of his Mercy Men are doubting and drooping Prov. 18.14 desponding and despairing therefore Christ pardoneth A wounded spirit is an intollerable burden A wounded spirit who can bear Suffer Spira to speak The hand of God is out against me not for Correction but for Condemnation Let Bilney and Glover also speak if Desertion be not a Hell within Christ pardons sin in respect of his Merit He did yea died therefore pardoneth Make no mixtures of the blood of Hales and Becket with the blood of Christ though they by Italy were canonized for Saints Every forgiven soul may say my Merit is the Mercy of my God The Apostle speaking of Christ saith Rom. 6.10 11. D. Mocr upon the 7 Epist to the 7 Churches p. 129. In that he died he died unto sin once but in that he liveth he liveth unto God Likewise reckon ye your selves to be dead indeed unto sin but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. The payment of popish Merits is not current but copper Coin which will not go in Heaven but will certainly be turned back to Hell again The Sacerdotal Absolution saith one among the Papists is the most hideous the most dangerous and the most perfidious Cheat of Rome that ever she could light on in order to the damning of poor credulous souls that thus superstitiously depend upon the vain Breath of their Priests for the security of their salvation There is in Christ for those that are Christs a fulness of Light A dark state is a dismal state Mal. 4.2 a dungeon state is a dreadfull state If Christ the Sun of Righteousness do not shine in our Horizon we are in the dark yea we are darkness 〈◊〉 self in the very Abstract For ye sometimes were darkness Eph. 5.8 but now are ye light in the Lord walk as children of light There was darkness upon the face of the whole earth until God said Let there be light Gen. 1.3 Now that the Habit should come out of the Privation Light out of Darkness Life out of Death Joy out of Sorrow Peace out of Trouble these are the wonderful works of God Christ calls himself the Light of Life Joh. 8.12 He that followeth me shall not walk in darkness but shall have the light of life As the firmamental Sun is the worlds light so Christ is the Churches light As the Eye is the light of the Body so Christ is the light of the Soul Oh Soul under all thy doubts and darkness Isa 50.10 when there is the greatest Film upon thine eye when thou art in darkness and hast no light then thou hast a Christ to go unto in whom there is a fulness of light for His. Did a Job say I was eyes to the blind feet was I also to the lame What may a Jesus then say There is in Christ for those that are Christs a fulness of Love The Love of Christ that is a sweet Monosyllable indeed that is a sweet morsel indeed 2 Cor. 5.21 Love that is a sweet Dish indeed Did I say a Dish indeed I may say a Feast indeed Did ever one live as Christ lived for he lived and sinned not Did ever any one love as Christ loved for he loved Rev. 1.5 and washed from sin in the blood of himself Christ loved His as he loved Himself yea he seemed to love His above Himself for he loved them and out of love gave himself to death for them Gal. 2.20 Who loved me and gave himself for me Christs feet were washed with Marys tears such was her love to Him but Marys heart was washed with Christs blood such was his love to Her Who loved us and washed us from our sins in the blood of himself Gen 44.30 2 Sam. 18.33 2 Sam. 1.26 There have been great Lovers in the world what a love had Jacob for Benjamin Kill the Son and the same grave may serve for the Father What a love had David for Absalom The Father would have a pillow of Lust that the Son might have a pillow of Down What a love had Jonathan for David Thy love to me was wonderful passing the love of women But what 〈◊〉 a Feather to a Mountain what is a Spark to the Furnace what is a Drop to the Ocean such is the love of Man to the love of God-man Christ infinitely out-bids all Psal 30.5 Chajim Psal 63.3 out-vies all In his favour is life yea lifes so the Hebrew Because thy loving-kindness is better than life than lifes so the Hebrew Christs Looks were Loves his Life was a life of Love Was he not born into the world rather to love than to live There is in Christ for those that are Christs a fulness of Wisdom Satan is subtle The children of this world are wiser in their generation Luk. 16.8 2 Sam. 15.31 than the children of light but Christ is â—iser than all wisest of all He can turn their wisdom into folly and out-shoot them in their own Bow The Wisdom that man hath is a poor pittance a poor moity but in Christ are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge Col. 2.3 1 King 4.31 2 Sam. 14.20 1 Cor. 1.24 Châ—chmot Prov. 9.1 Soloman was a Sage in his day He was wisâ—r than all men David according to the womans judgment was wise as an Angel of God But Chrâ—st is wise as God yea he is the Wisdom of God yea he is the God of Wisdom Wisdom Wisdoms so the Hebrew hath builded her house Christ the supream
Wisdom the Wisdom of God yea the God of Wisdom hath builded her house prepared him a Church he hath hewn out his seven pillars Patriarchs Prophets Seers Apostles Evangelists Pastors and Teaâ—hers or by seven may be understood the manifold gifts of the Spirit for it is ordinary in Scripture to take seven for a perfect number Pro. 8.14 for a number of perfection Is not that a lofty as well as a lovely strain when Christ thus speaks of himself Counsel is mine and sound Wisdom I am Vnderstanding I have strength Oh Soul though the best and wisest of men have too little of that wisdom from above which is first pure Jam. 3.17 and then peaceable yet there is in Christ for those that are Christs a fulness of Wisdom There is in Christ for those that are Christs a fulness of Righteousness He is stiled Jesus Christ the righteous Little children 1 Joh. 2.1 I write unto you that ye sin not Whatsoever ye do or suffer do not sin ye had better be sick than sinning better be suffering than sinning better be dying than sinning better be dying for a Christ or dying in a Christ than sinning against a Christ Little children I write unto you that ye sin not but if any one sin so the Greek whether Jew or Gentile whether man or woman Tis. We have an Advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the righteous Christ is not only righteous but also Righteousness Jer. 23.6 In his days Judah shall be saved and Israel shall dwell safely and this is the name whereby he shall be called Jehovah our righteousness There is in Christ a twofold Righteousness imputed and imparted an imputed righteousness in order to Justification an imparted righteousness in order to Sanctification Both these are together legible Who is made of God unto us wisdom 1 Cor. 1.30 righteousness sanctification and redemption That there is a fulness of righteousness in Christ is evident because he fully answèred what the Law could challenge of those that are His now the Law required of these a threefold righteousness habitual practical passive Habitual that is a Conformity of our Natures to the Holiness of the Law Now this was found in Christ in whom there is a fulness for his 1 Pet. 1.19 He was a Lamb without blemish and without spot Christ was free from all sin without blemish and spot without original and actual sin he was sound within and without Practical a Conformity of our Wills to the Edicts of the Law This also was found in Christ. There was not the least Aberration in his works words Joh. 14.30 or thoughts The Prince of this world cometh and hath nothing in me Christ had no Corruption that might be sewel to his Temptation though tempted unto sin yet was he not tempted into sin Passive a Conformity of our sufferings to the Threats and Curses of the Law This also was found in Christ in whom there is a fulness for His. But what did the Law threaten Quest. Sol. The Law threatned a privation of Comfort and an instiction of Torment A privation of Comfort This answers to our omission of good Time was when Christ was deprived of that Comfort and Influence Mark 15.34 which at other times he had from the Deity so far as to cry out My God my God why hast thou forsaken me An infliction of Torment This answers to our commission of evil Luke 22.44 This also was found in Christ in whom there is a sulness for His. Time was when Christ lay under torment and sense of wrath which caused him to sweat water and blood Thus is the Law exactly answered by the fulness of Christs righteousness CHAP. II. To the Soul in Christ. ART in Christ prepare then through Christ for the first Death Directions It is a solemn work to die we had need therefore prepare to do that work well which is but once to be done In this world we pray often and preach often and hear often in this world we meditate and mourn often discourse and dispute often yea which is worse than all in this world we sin often but we shall die but once Caesar Borgia I have read of one who being sick unto death said when I lived I prepared for every thing but Death now I must die and am unprepared for Death It is our prudence to die well because we can die but once A man had need to do that wisely which he can do but once An error in Death is like an error in War ye cannot commit it twice All the time we live is but a passage unto Death and therefore should be a preparation for Death It is said of David 1 Chron. 22.5 that before his death he prepared abundantly for the house of the Lord. It is the Duty and Dignity the Prudence and Property of those who are actually Christs before their death to prepare abundantly for their death What is true of Judgment is true of Death Amos 4.12 Not Vi Armis but this is true of Judgment Prepare to meet thy God oh Israel The Israel of God is to meet the God of Israel in the way of his righteous Judgments by Prayers and Tears not by Sword and Spears Heart-work is hard work and yet this is imposed 1 Sam. 7.3 Prepare your hearts unto the Lord and he will deliver you out of the hands of the Philistines Ezek. 18.31 Ezek. 36.26 God impose upon man the making of a new heart and he might as well have imposed upon him the making of a new Heaven but what God impose upon man in one place he promise to do for man in another place Make ye a new heart Pro. 16.1 A new heart will I give them God impose upon man the preparation of the heart when the preparations of the heart in man and the answer of the tongue is from the Lord. But what course shall I now steer Quest. and by what compass shall I now sail that I may prepare for Death Make through Christ Mortality thy Meditation Sol. 1. Meditate death Bern. be much in the Meditation of Mortality Nothing saith one so revokes from sin as a daily Meditation of Death The Heathen could say that the whole life of man should be nothing else but a Meditation of Death One presented Antipater King of Macedon with a Book treating of Happiness but his answer was I have no leisure to read it Days of Grace have their Dates take heed therefore of saying to morrouâ— to morrow As a man must not say to Christ so a man must not say to Death as a penurious and parcimonious man say to an indigent person come to morrow Sine mora Heb. 4.7 Diem perdidi Vespatian Mané I am not at leisure now Without delay was the Motto of Alexander the Great To day if ye will hear his voice harden not your hearts The present time
Beaven without him I had rather saith another be in Hell with a Christ than to be in Heaven without him Heaven is the presence of all Good and the absence of all Evil. Redde mihi vitam aeternam quam debes That Monk died like himself who said Lord pay me Heaven which thou owest me Heaven is a Flower of Salvation blown out the Saint here is in the Suburbs of Heaven Heaven is the Inheritance of those unto whom Christ is Life and unto whom Death shall be gain If Heaven be the Inheritance of these Quest what manner of Inheritance then is Heaven Heaven is a free Inheritance Sol. 1. Would it not puzzle all the Saints on Earth and Angels in Heaven to bring in the worth of Heaven and yet this is a Donatâ—â—e Many Inheritances here below are bought but this Inheritance is given Here men buy Inheritances and pay to the worth of them Luk. 2.32 but Heaven though it cannot be valued to its worth yet it is given 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Fear not little-little Flook there are two diminitives in the Greek for it is your Fathers good pleasure to give you the Kingdom The word translated Flock signifies a little Flock but Christ to shew the exceeding littleness of it adds another word little Fear not little-little Flock Heaven is a full Inheritance Ahasuerus had a large Territory he reigned from India unto Ethiopia over 127 Provinces A man would have thought that 127 Provinces had been enough for 127 persons and yet this large Territory was a poor pittance Many have large Inheritances here below and cannot live upon them but Heaven is an Inheritance thou mayest live upon if possessed of this Inheritance thou shalt never want more Heaven is a perfection of Felicity without intermission and amission If once possessed of this Inheritance then thou wilt say with Jacob It is enought Thou wilt as one reads it make known the way of life satiety of joys before thy face Ainsworth Psa 16.11 pleasures at thy right hand to perpetuity Heaven is a living Inheritance Heaven is not only a living Inheritance but also an Inheritance of Life Death is legible in the face of the Earth but Life is legible in the face of Heaven I am come that ye might have life Life here life hereafter Mutability and Mortality Rev. 2.10 are written upon all things here below but Heaven is called a Crown of Life Be thou faithful unto death there is the precept and I will give thee a Crown of life there 's the promise Heaven is a lasting Inheritance The Inheritance will last so long as the Heir last Into what a time of Debauchery are we fallen and how short-lifed are earthly Inheritances How long soever the Fathers were in getting them the Children are not long in spending them An earthly Inheritance may be spent but this heavenly Inheritance cannot be spent Though those who are actually Christs may lose all at Sea and all 〈◊〉 Land all in the Ship and all in the Shop all within doors and all without doors yet they cannot lose Heaven this is a lasting Inheritance yea this is an everlasting Inheritance The Apostle having imposed a making of the calling and election sure subjoyns this For so an entrance will be ministred unto you abundantly 2 Pet. 1.10 11. into the everlasting Kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. This Kingdom is the Kingdom of Glory because stiled an everlasting Kingdom It is called the Kingdom of Christ because given to him as a reward of his passions It is an everlasting Kingdom because the Vnion between Christ and a Christian is everlasting As Christ on earth is the Christians Medium of Reconciliation and Communion so Christ in Heaven is the Christians Medium of Vision and Fruition There are among other things these six things which those who are actually Christs can never lose The Soul cannot be lost The Soul is a Blossom of Eternity hath a stamp of Immortality now Death it self though the Mistress of Mortals and Empress of the Vniverse despairs how to kill this Fear not them which kill the body Luk. 12.4 and after that have no more that they can do Men. may kill the Body but they cannot kill the Soul Those who assert without blushing the Mortality of the Soul seem at least to stand upon the Brink of Atheism Though the Body return unto the Dust yet the Soul to Hell or Heaven Luk. 23.43 1 Pet. 1.5 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Peccare not Perire Though the Veins of the penitent Thief were breathed and his Vitals let out yet his Soul goes to Heaven To day shalt thou be with me in Paradise To day is not this emphatical and doth not Christ promise more than the Thief asks Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation Who are kept the Greek word is a military word taken from Souldiers they are safely kept kept as a Garrison in time of War against the Enemy Though a Soul actually in Christ may sin 1 Joh. 3.9 and do sin yet not unto Death not unto the second Death He that is born of God sinneth not not to condemnation The Saviour cannot be lost Once and Ever is Christs Motto Though yesterday some were not Semèl Simùl Heb. 13.8 to day some are but to morrow these may not be yet yesterday to day and for ever Christ is the same Jesus Christ the same yesterday to day and for ever The same yesterday before his coming in the flesh The same to day while in the flesh The same for ever Heb. 9.24 after his Ascension unto and Admission into the Kingdom of Heaven now to appear in the presence of God for us Art actually Christs then though thou mayest lose thy Lands lose thy Limbs lose thy Liberty lose thy Life yet thou canst not lose thy Love lose thy Christ The Grace of Christ cannot be lost Grace may decay but it cannot die it may be abated but it cannot be abolished it may be shaken in the Soul but it cannot be shaken out of the Soul Grace 1 Pet. 1.13 is incorruptible seed Which were born not of corruptible seed but of incorruptible Grace is the Seed the Heart is the Soil Gold may be lost Goods may be lost Grandeur may be lost but Grace cannot be lost this must go into Glory when Time goeth into Eternity The Spirit of Christ cannot be lost What the Body is without the Soul Lifeless and Loveless that the Soul is without the Spirit and yet this Spirit cannot be lost What Wheels are to the Chariot and Oil to those Wheels that the Spirit is to the Soul and yet this Spirit cannot be lost What Sails are to the Ship and Wind to those Sails that yea infinitely more than that is the Spirit to the Soul Joh. 16.14 and yet this Spirit cannot be lost I will pray the Father and he shall
children of God 'T is a sanctifying Spirit Abel differed not from Cain Abraham from Absalom Isaac from Ishmael Jacob from Esau Simon Peter from Simon Magus James the Lords Brother from Judas the Lords betrayer in respect of their Substance but in respect of the Spirit which the one had but the other had not It is the Spirit that sanctifies 2 Thes 2.13 God hath chosen us to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth 'T is a sealing Spirit After ye believed ye were sealed with that holy spirit of Promise Eph. 1.13 The use of a Seal is two-fold and consists in two things In the Nature of it In this sense Christ was sealed Labour not for the meat that perisheth Joh. 6.27 but for that which endureth unto everlasting life which the Son of Man shall give for him hath the Father sealed To Seal a thing is to stamp the Character of the Seal upon it In the Vse of it This is two-fold To ratifie A Seal is to ratifie any Grant or Conveyance made in writing A writing sealed is authentick this confirms the Testimony that is given by any one of the Truth of any thing Such was the manner among the Jews Joh. 3.33 He that hath received his testimony hath set to his seal that God is true Thus by way of Ratification To Appropriate A Seal is to appropriate distinguish or keep safe Rev. 7.4 In this sense are the Servants of God sealed I heard the number of them that were sealed and there were sealed an hundred forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the Children of Israel Thus by way of Appropriation Thus the Spirit of God is a sealing Spirit it confirms and assures the Soul of the love of God of life from God of life with God And grieve not the holy Spirit of God Eph. 4.30 whereby ye are sealed to the day of redemption The Spirit here according to the Greek Text is set forth with very great Energy and the Text may be thus read Grieve not the holy the Spirit of that God Not a Spirit but the Spirit not holy but the holy and not of God but of that God Would ye prepare for Death Look then unto Christ and lay the Stress of Obedience upon Him Obedience is or ought to be the White in a Christians eye at which he should level every arrow Obedience is better than Sacrifice and hearkning than the fat of lambs A man truly gracious had rather with one have Grace to be obedient Luther than Power to work Miracles Obediene is two-fold active and passive and the stress of both to be laid upon Christ but to these distinctly Active Lay the stress of Doing for a Christ upon a Christ. Acti agimus Active Obedience is a Doing what God imposeth now being acted we act Not that we we Apostles we Disciples we accounted Cedars in Lebanon not Shrubs of the Valley are sufficient of our selves 2 Cor. 3.5 to think any thing as of our selves but our sufficiency is of God Were they so what are we then If insufficient as to thinking what are we then as to acting To do what we ought when we ought and as we ought is from Christ. Passive Lay the stress of Dying for a Christ upon a Christ. Passive Obedience is a suffering what God inflicteth Passive Obedience brings as much Glory to God as active Obedience doth Luther was troubled that he did not lay down his bloud on this side the grave and pass through a violent death as all the Apostles but John did Art actually in Christ then possibly thou shalt not long live his Servant but die his Sicrifice now Passion as well as Action dying as well as doing bleeding or burning as well as believing is from Christ Phil. 1.29 and the Grace of Christ To you it is given in the behalf of Christ not only to believe but also to suffer for his sake Suffering-work is Noble work the Noblest work Mat. 6.10 for though Saints be inferiour to Angels as to Action yet they are superiour to Angels as to Passion for they are Spirits and incapable of suffering 1 Tim. 5.21 6. Verse of Judes Epist Psa 37.24 2 Pet. 2.4 The Apostle speaketh of elect Angels These fell not from their estate As the elect Saints cannot finally fall Though he fall yet shall he not be utterly cast down for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand so the elect Angels did not foully fall Now Suffering was the Consequent of Sinning And spared not the Angels that sinned but cast them down to Hell True Obedience may be known three waies By the Sincerity of it My rejoycing is this the testimony of a good Conscience how that in sincerety 2 Cor. 1.12 and godly simplicity c. By the Vniversality of it Then shall I not be ashamed when I have respect unto all thy Commandments Psa 119.6 We must not only respect all Gods Commandments but also respect them all alike and give them all the like respect Obedience must be Vniversal By the Constancy of it As Obedience must be sincere and Vniversal so constant 1 Cor. 15.58 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Col. 3.11 Be ye stedfast unmoveable alwaies abounding in the work of the Lord. If we would prepare for Death we must lay the Stress of Obedience whether active or passive upon Christ for he is All and in All or according to the Greek All things and in all things It may be understood of Persons as well as Things Christ is All from the Father All to the Father All with the Father but to these distinctly Christ is All from the Father I am come that ye might have life life here Joh. 10.10 and life hereafter and that ye might have it more abundantly The life of Grace and of Glory they are by Christ Christ is All to the Father I am the Way the Truth and the Life Joh. 14.6 no man commeth unto the Father but by me Every word here hath its Article in the Greek Christ is the Way wherein the Truth whereby and the Life whereunto we walk Christ is the Way without Error the Truth without Falshood and the Life without Death Truth lies between Way and Life as if the Way to Life were through Truth Christ is All with the Father I know thou hearest me alwaies Christ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Mat. 3.17 hath Gods Ear at all times Christ is at Gods right hand yea Christ is as Gods right hand Christ is the Object of the Fathers delight This is my Beloved Son in whom I acquiess so the Greek It is an emphatical word and signifieth an infinite Affection DIRECTION II. ART actually in Christ Direct 2 Sen. Artem bene vivendi moriendi study then through Christ the Art of Dying well May a Heathen speak When I was young my care was to live well I then
studied the Art of Living well when Age came upon me and gray hairs appeared here and there my care was to Die well I then studied the Art of Dying well He saith also thou shalt die Summum Bonum Ars optima est vivendi discere Artem bene moriendi not because thou art sick but because thou livest The Heathens hold Death to be mans chiefost Good The Covenant of the Grave is shewed to no man but the Watch-word is given to all men The Physicians exclaim that Life is short and Art is long but Divines teach that the best Art of Living well is to study the Art of Dying well Is it not pity that men should not know unto what they were born into this world until they are ready to go out of this world Who knoweth but to live is to die and to die is to live Life is a thing that few understand but those that are ready to leave it A person in a dying hour shall wish himself not a Man that hath not been a good Christian One speaking of himself that he had lived well another said I wish thou mayest die well being asked the reason why he said so answered because we live to die and die to live 2 Cor. 5.10 As Death leaves thee Judgment will find thee Death goeth before Judgment followeth after As the tree falleth so it lieth We must all appear before the Judgment seat of Christ This Art of Dying well may be studied must be studied But what course shall I steer Quest and by what compass shall I sail in studying the Art of Dying well Would ye Die well Sol. 1. then through Christ Live well The right way to Die well is to Live well The way to die the death of the righteous Qualis vita Finis ita is to live the life of the righteous Such a Life such a Death mostly Live well and Die well are in conjunction are in connexion they are like Rebecca's Twins going hand in hand Live well and Die well they are like the two Temples of Vertue and Honour that were so contiguously built that none could go into the Temple of Honour that did not first pass through the Temple of Vertue There is little if any probability of dying well if there be not a living well That Death is not to be sported with that a strict and serious life is not the humour of some conceited and singular persons in the world witness Balaam the Prophet so much courted by Balak the Prince Let me die the death of the righteous and let my last end be like his Num. 23.10 Here is the most knowing man in the East who was not for living the life of the righteous and yet was for dying the death of the righteous But as the Way is so is the End like to be and as the Work is 1 King 4.29 30 31. so is the Wages like to be Solomon the Sage of Sages one wiser than all men whose understanding was as the sand of the Sea shore this most knowing man in the world Eccl. 1.14 writes upon all vanity and vexation of spirit Living well is praevious unto dying well Mark the perfect man Psa 37.37 and behold the upright for the end of that man is peace Whatsoever his Beginning was his End is peace Though he had not peace in Life yet he shall have peace in Death and though he should not have peace at Death yet he shall have peace after Death Better is the beginning of a thing than the end thereof to a Soul out of Christ but better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof to a Soul in Christ for the end of that man is peace I have fought a good fight 2 Tim. 4.7 8. I have finished my course I have kept the faith henceforth is laid up for me a Crown of Righteousness c. Would ye die well then through Christ die daily Let both ears be laid to the Apostle here By your rejoycing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord I die daily Or as the day 1 Cor. 15.31 Those words I protest are not in the Greek As the day I die or I die daily I expose my self daily to death for the Gospel and the Conversion of the Gentiles but as I am daily dying so I am dying daily But unto what are those who are actually Christs to Die daily Quest These are to die unto Self and unto the world Sol. Unto Self Is not Self a Monster a Mountebank the Antichrist within The civil Rule is so defaced that many if not most men are Compounds of Self Let a Minister or Member or Neighbour sink or swim it is all one to them It is become proverbial Every man for himself A Maxim drawn in Hell and ushered into the world by the Prince of Darkness Now there is a six-fold Self unto which those who are actually Christs are to die Those actually Christs are to die unto sinful Self We must kill sin or sin will kill Vs It is a taking Prospect to see Sin die Rom. 6.2 while we live How shall we that are dead to Sin live any longer therein Those actually Christs are to die unto lawful Self Though where there is no law there is no transgression yet those actually Christs are to deny themselves in lawful things and to die unto lawful self It may be 't is but a peccadillio a little thing and lawfull in it Self 1 Cor. 6.12 but if this should offend thy Brother deny thy self in it and die to it All things are lawful unto me but all things are not expedient all things are lawful unto me but I will not be brought under the power of any Those actually Christs are to die unto natural Self These are to die to their Arts and Parts Gifts and Reason natural Acquirements and Accomplishments 1 Cor. 12.31 Covet earnestly the best gifts and yet I shew unto you a more excellent way One Dram of Grace is better than a Pound of Gifts one Drop of Grace is better than a Sea of Gifts one Mite of Grace is better than a Mountain of Gifts Those actually Christs are to die unto moral Self These must not only die unto gross and enormous sin but also to the least Immorality Let none of you suffer as a murderer 1 Pet. 4.15 or as a thief or as an evil doer or as a busie body in other mens matters Those actually Christs should be so far from be-being murderers or thieves or evil doers that they should not be according to the Greek Bishops in anothers Diocess and Priers into other mens matters Those actually Christs are to die unto relative Self This takes in the nearest and dearest Relations Am not I better to thee than ten Sons 1 Sam. 1.8 and and yet these must be died unto Wives are near and dear Relations Though Adam was Emperour of
Thou shalt call his name Jesus for he shall save his people from their sins Mat. 1.21 This name Jesus is originally Hebrew and it is a sweet word a word sweetly sweet Had it not been much better for Thee and for Me not to have had a Name than for Vs not to believe in this Name This Name is Honey in the Mouth Musick in the Ear a Jubilee in the Heart Christ is called Jehovah Is not this a great and a good Name What Mortal though the greatest Rhetorician is able to express the greatness and goodness of this Name Jer. 23.6 In his daies Judah shall be saved and Israel shall dwell safely and this is the name whereby he shall be called Jehovah our Righteousness Now do not these various Titles speak Christ to be a God From probable and promising Arguments and Reasons He from whom Salvation is must be God but from Christ Salvation is therefore Christ is God Psal 68.20 He that is our God is the God of salvation and unto God the Lord belong the Issues from death Salvation is a sweet word to a dark and doubting soul to a desponding and despairing soul and this Salvation is from Christ There is salvation in none other Say unto my soul Psal 35.3.2 I am thy salvation He who is the Object of Faith must be God but Christ is the Object of Faith therefore Christ is God Let not your hearts be troubled Joh. 14.1 ye believe in God believe also in me Not that Christ commands or approves a Stoical Apathy as if his Disciples should put off natural affection and be troubled at nothing but he would not have their hearts like water muddied and stirred not full of vehement commotion and perturbation as the Greek word signifieth Let not your hearts be thus troubled ye believe in God believe also in Me. Rom. 3.26 The person of Christ is the Object of Faith That he might be just and the justifier of him that believeth in Jesus He who is the Life of His must Himself needs be God but Christ is the Life of His therefore Christ is God Joh. 11.25 I am the Resurrection and the Life The life of Nature of Grace and of Glory are from Christ Col. 3.4 When he who is our life shall appear He who is Life to Himself must be God but Christ is Life to Himself therefore Christ is God I am he that was dead Rev. 1.18 and am alive and behold I live for evermore God as Father hath communicated unto Christ as Son his whole Essence Joh. 5.26 As the Father hath life in himself so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself He that can turn Water into Wine and heal with a word must be God but thus Christ did therefore Christ is God Satan may work wonders and Magicians by the help of Satan did work wonders but miracles are out of the sphere of Satan A miracle is a rare work John 2.9 11. Joh. 4.50 54. apparently wrought by the power of God far above Nature and all natural causes Christ turned Water into Wine and this is called a miracle Christ also healed with a word for he said unto the Noble-man Go thy way thy Son liveth This also is called a miracle Now is not this Christ a God He that was before all things must be God but Christ was before all things therefore Christ is God I was set up from everlasting Pro. 8.23 In time Christ â—vas sent out but from everlasting was Christ set up He is before all things Col. 1.17 and by him all things consist He that is Gods Fellow must needs be God but Christ is God's Fellow therefore Christ is God Awake oh sword against my Shepherd Zach. 13.7 and against the man that is my fellow saith the Lord of Hosts smite the Shepherd and the sheep shall be scattered 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Proximum meum My Fellow my Citizen so the Septuagint My nearest that is next unto Me so Junius Thus Christ is he is nearest unto God his Session is at the right hand of God He is next unto God Father and then Son Mark 14.27 That this place is principally to be understood of Christ is evident by the Evangelist For it is written I will smite the Shepherd and the sheep shall be scattered He who gave a Resurrection to Himself must be God but Christ gave a Resurrection to Himself therefore Christ is God Joh. 2.19 21. Christ told the Jews that he would give himself a corporal and numerical Resurrection Destroy this Temple and in three daies I will raise it up but he spake of the Temple of his body When therefore ye read that God raised him from the dead as ye often may ye may then understand it of the Deity Christ also seems to insinuate this when speaking of his Life he saith I have power to lay it down Joh. 10.18 and I have power to take it up again He that can give a Resurrection to others must be God but Christ can give a Resurrection to others therefore Christ is God Lazarus come forth Joh. 11.43 44. and he that was bound came forth That Christ did raise is evident that Christ will raise is as evident This is the will of him that sent me Joh. 6.40 that every one which seeth the Son and believeth on him may have everlasting life and I will raise him up at the last day He that made all things must be God but Christ made all things therefore Christ is God All things were made by him Joh. 1.3 and without him was not any thing made that was made None can create but God only Though Christ be less than the Father in respect of his Humanity yet he is equal unto the Father in respect of his Divinity Jer. 10.11 for all things were made by him The Gods that have not made the Heavens and the Earth even they shall perish from the Earth and from under these Heavens He unto whom divine Adoration is due must be God but unto Christ divine Adoration is due therefore Christ is God Mat. 4.10 This Doctrine Christ hims elf preached to Satan Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God and him only shalt thou serve As if Christ had said Satan thou art not God therefore I must not worship Thee to get all the world Acts 14.13 14 15 And as Satan must not so Man must not be worshipped Not Magistrates not Ministers Paul and Barnabas would not be worshipped Rev. 22.8 9. And as Men must not so Angels must not be worshipped They are fellow-servants worship God He who is Omniscient must be God Joh. 21.17 but Christ is Omniscient therefore Christ is God Lord thou knowest all things Christ knoweth all things as if he had but one thing to know He knoweth all things done in Romish-Conclaves and in English-Cabals Come Joh.
4.29 see a man that told me all things that ever I did is not this the Christ He who is Omnipotent must be God but Christ is Omnipotent Matth. 28.18 therefore Christ is God All power in Heaven and in Earth is devolved upon Christ Christ is the power of God yea the God of power The Lord God Omnipotent reigneth Rev. 19.6 This power can over-power all power He who is Omnipresent must be God Psa 139.7 Hic ubiquè 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Eph. 4.10 but thus Christ is therefore Christ is God Whither shall I go from thy Spirit or whither shall I flee from thy presence Christ as God is Here and every where He that descended is the same also that ascended far above all Heavens To what end That he might fill or fulfil all things for the Greek word signifieth both He is ascended far above all visible Heavens into that Heaven which is invisible to us on Earth But to what end In order to the filling of Heaven and Earth with his presence in order also to a fulfilling of all the Prophecies concerning Himself He who is All in All must be God but Christ is All in All therefore Christ is God Col. 3.11 Where there is neither Jew nor Greek Barbarian Scythian bond nor free but all things and in all things Christ. Thus Christ is the way from the Father and the way to the Father Christ is the way from God to the Soul I will give thee for a Light to the Gentiles Isa 49.6 that thou mayest be my salvation to the ends of the earth Christ is the way for the Soul to God I am the way the truth and the life Joh. 14.6 no man cometh unto the Father but by me If Christ be thus then he is God He that shall come from Heaven waited by Angels 2 Thes 1.7 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and whose Voice shall raise the dead must be God but thus Christ shall come and do at his comming He shall be revealed from Heaven with his mighty Angels The Angels of his power Greek And that his Voice shall raise the dead is as evident Marvel not at this Why Joh. 5.28 29. for the hour is comming and new is when all that are in the graves shall hear his voice and shall come forth they that have done good to the Resurrection of life and they that dave done evil to the Resurrection of damnation He who is all Eye must be God but Christ is all Eye therefore Christ is God Christ is all Eye Bernardus non vidit emnia Joh. 1.48 Act. 9.11 and seeth all things as if he had but one thing to see When thou wast under the fig-tree I saw thee Man seeth not all things but Christ doth He is light of life and life of light As he saw Nathaniel under the Fig-tree so he saw Paul in the Closet Go for behold he prayeth Bernard had a film upon his Eye but Christ hath none he seeth all things at once He who is all Ear must be God but Christ is all Ear therefore Christ is God This poor man cryed Psal 34.6 and the Lord heard him and saved him out of all his troubles Though Christ be in Heaven he can hear thee in a wood hear thee in a wilderness hear thee in the Church or in the Closet hear thee in the City or in the Country hear thee upon a Common or in a Cottage Psal 34.15 The eyes of Jehovah are upon the righteous and his ears are open unto their cry Christ is all Ear and heareth all things as if he had but one thing to hear He that can forgive sin must be God but Christ can forgive sin Mark 2.5 therefore Christ is God Who can forgive sins but God only Pardon of sin is a singular mercy of the plural number Aug. Psa 103.3 to a convinced and converted soul to a desponding and despairing soul to a distressed and deserted soul Lord saith one here beat me or buffet me here break me or banish me here bleed me or burn me so thou wilt hereafter save me Who forgiveth all thine iniquities He that shall judge the world must be God but Christ shall judge the world therefore Christ is God The Father judgeth no man but hath committed all judgment to the Son Joh. 5.22 Ah! how amazing and amusing how confounding and consternating will that Day be when He who is anothers Saviour shall be thy Judge He hath given him authority to execute Judgment also Joh. 5.27 because he is the Son of Man Christ is such a Judge as that the power of the powerfullest cannot daunt the wealth of the wealthiest cannot bribe the wit of the wittiest cannot delude Christ is such a Judge as that there is no appealing from his Sentence nor repealing of his Sentence I charge thee therefore before God 2 Tim. 4.1 and the Lord Jesus Christ who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his Kingdom Now He who is Judge is God but Christ is Judge therefore Christ is God Fear not Death for Christ is thine and he is a Guide Christ is a person of the greatest Conduct and those actually his are under his conduct from Earth to Heaven from Grace to Glory That Christ is the Leader of his Joh. 10.3 is evident He calleth his own sheep by name and leadeth them out That Christ is the Leader of his from Earth to Heaven from grace to glory Rev. 7.17 is as evident The Lamb which is in the midst of the Throne shall feed them and shall lead them to living fountains of waters and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes In Heaven there are Triumphs without Tears and Tunes of Joy without Tones of Sorrow Psa 73.24 Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel and afterwards receive me to glory But what manner of Guide is Christ Quest Sol. 1. Christ is an incomparable Guide Some have been excellent for conduct for conduct at Sea for conduct at Land but Christ exceeds and excels all No wonder now ye have that negative precept Trust ye not in a friend Mich. 7.5 put ye not confidence in a Guide keep the doors of thy mouth from her that lieth in thy bosom Christ is a careful Guide There was never any one so careful of Souls as Christ was Oh how careful was he of the Jews Why will ye die oh house of Israel Is it not enough that I die but will ye die also Let me die that ye may live let me be crucified that ye may be crowned let me be made a curse that ye may have a crown Why will ye die oh house of Israel Oh how careful was Christ of the man that fell among Theeves Luke 10.33 34 35. He bound up his wounds poured in Oil and Wine set him upon his own Beast brought him to an Inn paid his Reckoning took
care of him at present and also for the future Christ is a gracious Guide Christ leads not in a way of sin but in a way of grace not in a way of unrighteousness but in a way of righteousness Prov. 8.20 I lead in the way of righteousness in the midst of the paths of Judgment Christ leadeth in foul as well as in fair ways and in foul as well as in fair weather Christ is a gentle Guide There is not that Gentleness in a Mother to lead a sick and a weak child that there is in Christ to lead a sick and a weak Christian He shall feed his flock like a Shepherd is here all Isa 40.11 No He shall gather the Lambs with his arm is here all No He shall carry them in his bosom is here all No And shall gently lead those that are with young Christ is a peaceable Guide Christ leadeth in his own ways and they are ways of pleasantness and in his own paths and they are paths of peace Luk. 1.79 Christ came to give light to them that did sit in darkness and in the shadow of death and to guide their feet into the way of peace Christ leadeth unto and after Himself and He is the peace of His. Christ is a profitable Guide Christ leadeth the soul unto the Gates Psal 23.1 2. Marg. and then passeth the soul through the Gates into the City Christ leadeth by still waters unto fresh pastures The Lord is my Shepherd I shall not want He maketh me to lie down in pastures of tender grass he leadeth me beside the waters of quietness Christ is a desirable Guide Was Titus called the Desire of Mankind Psa 73.25 what may a Jesus then be called Whom have I in Heaven but thee and there is none upon Earth that I desire besides thee There is nothing in Christ but what is truly desirable and there is nothing truly desirable but what is in Christ Christ is a delectable Guide Christ's Voice hath a mighty yea an almighty Influence Christ did but speak for Matthew Mat. 9.9 and he had him He saw Matthew sitting at the receit of custom and said unto him Matthew follow me And he arose and followed him If Christ calleth to come he causeth to come Christ is a prudential Guide David was wise as a Man Pro. 8.14 but Christ is wise as a God Solomon was wiser than all men but Christ is wiser than all Angels Is not that a lofty as well as a lovely Strain I am Vnderstanding Christ is a gradual Guide Growth in Grace is emblem'd by the waters of the Sanctuary and Christ leadeth in Sanctuary-waters Ezek. 47.3 4 5. The waters were first to the Ancles then to the Knees then to the Loins then a River that could not be passed over Now those actually Christs are under a gradual leading of Christ from one degree of grace to another Christ is a regular Guide Christ leadeth rightly yea in a way of Rightness The Serpent ledâ—eth a wrong way but the Son leadeth a right way If Christ leadeth to binding to bleeding to banishing to burning yet he leadeth his a right way for he leadeth them into Heaven If Christ leadeth through the Red Sea and through the wilderness yet he leadeth a right way for he leadeth his into Canaan Though Christ leadeth by the Cross yet he leadeth unto the Crown and though he leadeth through a Cottage yet he leadeth unto a Pallace unto a Paradise God did not lead the children of Israel through the way of the Land of the Philistines though that was near but he led them about through Exod. 13.17 18. the way of the wilderness of the red Sea and yet he led them a right way This was Gods way and his way is a right way Hos 14.9 As the ways of the Lord are right and the just shall walk in them so Christ leadeth a right way for though he leadeth his unto the Grave yet he leadeth his unto Glory Christ is a continual Guide Did Christ lead thee yesterdey he will lead thee to day Doth he lead the to day he will lead the for ever for yesterday to day and for ever he is the same Many persons imbitter their sweets add to their own Burdens dig their own Graves by anticipating providences and not reflecting that truth Mat. 6.34 Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof Oh saith one what shall I do when Poverty and Prison come Oh saith another what shall I do when the Sword and the Plague come Oh saith a third what shall I do when Fire and Famine come Oh saith a fourth what shall I do when the Rack and thee Stake come But sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof He that now leadeth will then lead if these things come before thou goest off the Stage Isa 58.11 Marg. The Lord shall guide thee continually and satisfie thy Soul in drought and make fat thy bones thou shalt be like a watered garden and like a spring of water whose waters lie or deceive not Fear not Death for he is thine and he is a Guard For And so Junius and the Greek and the Hebrew Zach. 2.5 And I saith Jehovah will be a wall of Fire round about her and of Glory in the midst of her Who will adventure upon a wall of Fire Psa 125.2 As the mountains are round about Jerusalem to fortifie and defend that so Jehovah is round about his People to fortifie and defend them from henceforth and for ever But here are two Questions How and Why Christ is a wall of Fire Quest or Security unto his Church But how is Christ a wall of Fire or Security 1 How to his Church and People In a two-fold respect his Justice and his Mercy Sol. In respect of his Justice We usually and yet truly say It is Justice to give every man his due or his own Justitia est suum cuique tribuere Act. 1.25 Hell is a Sinners own this He hath merited The wages of sin is death The first and the second Death Judas went to his own place And as Heâ— is a Sinners own so Heaven is a Saints own this Christ hath merited I give unto them eternal ase Eternal life is made up of Grace and of Glory this life Christ giveth as his Mercy Joh. 10.28 and as his Merit Persons are variously bound some through grace are bound for Heaven but most through sin are bound for Hell now it is a righteous thing with Christ to send persons to various ports according as they are varionsly bound Mat. 25.46 These those on the left hand shall go into everlasting punishment but the rightcous those on the right hand into use everlasting Justice is one of Christs Attributes and he is infinite in Attribute as well as in Essence Now if he should lose one Attribute might he not lose every Attribute and so cease
at Wisdoms Gates Cant. 7.5 and wait in her Galleries The King is held in the Galleries The King is Christ and these Galleries are those things wherein he takes his Turns The Ordinances of Christ are the Galleries of Christ Christ is not only met there but also had there yea held there Would ye be assured study then a greater conformity to Christ Had Zimri peace who slew his Master Hast thou peace in thy Slips and Trips In the sliding of thy Foot and backsliding of thy Heart A want of conformity interrupts communion The more Grace thou hast the more Peace thou are like to have The more thou art in a way of conformity to Christ the more communion thou art like to have with Christ. Isa 32.17 The fruit of Righteousness shall be peace and the effect of Righteousness quietness and assurance for ever Would ye be assured make Christ then the Object of your Trust and live upon Grace in him He that hath not a Rock to stand upon and a Christ to trust in will be a Magor-Missabib fear round about when buffeting and banishing come when fire and famine come when bleeding and burning come Is not a Horse or a House or a Shop or a man Isa 26.4 a vain thing to trust in Trust ye in Jehovah until Eternity for Jah Jehovah is a Rock unto Eternity And as the Object of your Trust must be Christ so if ye would be assured ye must live upon Grace in him 2 Tim. 2.1 Thou therefore my Son be strong in the grace that is in Christ Would ye be assured converse then those that are assured Christian Conference often prove Christian Comfort Christian courage and Christian confidence 2 Cor. 1. â— Who comforteth us in all our tribulation that we may be able to comfort them that are in any trouble by the comforts wherewith we our selves are comforted of God Would ye be assured look then to the Spirit for Assurance Look not so upon men and means as to overlook the Spirit Look not so to the Instrment and Institution as to overlook the Spirit Rom. 8.16 The Spirit himself beareth witness together with our spirits that we are the children of God But Quest 6. what motives are there to endeavour this Assurance which is attainable in this Life Would ye not be Staggering at the Promise Sol. 1. Endeavour then through Christ evidence for interest in Christ This was the Character and Commendation of Abraham Rom. 4.20 21. He Staggered not at the Promise through unbelief but was strong in Faith giving Glory to God being fully perswaded that what God had promised he was able to perform Fully perswaded a Metaphor taken from Ships coming into a Port with Top and Top Gallant according to the Dialect of Seamen with all the Sails spread and filled Thus Abraham there seems not a Sail of his Soul but was filled with the Gales and Gusts of Assurance Would ye face Death under the severest Complexion Endeavour through Christ evidence for interest in Christ. 1 Cor. 15.55 56 57. It is the assured Soul that will look and laugh Death in the Face Saying and Singing Oh Death where is thy Sting Oh Grave where is thy Victory Would ye be eminently spirited for eminent Service endeavour through Christ evidence for Interest in Christ Will a Coward come under the cutting of the Sword 2 Cor. 32.7 8. the pricking of the Spear the roaring of the Cannon It is the Soul that hath Evidence for Interest in Christ that will face Danger Difficulty Death 2 Chron. 32.7 8. There are more with us than with them for God is with us and for how many will ye reckon Him Would ye be ready and rigged for an Eternity endeavour through Christ evidence for Intrest in Christ. We know that if our Earthly House of this Tabernacle were dissolved 2 Cor. 5.1 We have a Building of God an House not made with hands Eternal in the Heavens Would ye find every bitter Cup sweetned endeavour through Christ evidence for Interest in Christ. Ye may look for the water of Marah for a bitter Cup yea for a Cup of Bitterness for a Cup of Blood but Sights of Christ the Loves of Christ Phil. 1.21 Evidence for Interest in Christ will sweeten all To me to live is Christ and to die is gain Would ye dwell in the Suburbs of Heaven endeavour through Christ Evidence for Interest in Christ Assurance is as it were a Heaven upon Earth To be laid in the Arms lodged in the Bosom and locked up as it were in the Breast of a crucified Christ is Assurance and is not this a Lesser and a Lower Heaven Psa 30.6 a Heaven upon Earth In his Favour is Life yea Lifes so the Hebrew Get now Assurance of another Life after Death for there can be no Assurance of this Life against Death That Assurance is attainable what this Assurance is and why it is attainable unto what this Assurance is attributed together with the Directions and Motives about attaining it have been though weakly discussed which leads to the following Direction DIRECT V. A At actually in Christ Direct 5. Reflect then those things that through Christ may sweeten the Thoughts of Death There is a Beauty even in Death it self to a Soul actually in Christ It is said of a godly man in Death Job 5.26 Thou shalt come to thy grave in a full age like as a shock of Corn cometh in in his season A happy death is the close of temporal happiness and the beginning of eternal A happy death stands between Grace and Glory like the Baptist between the Law and the Gospel and is the connexion or knitting of both A happy death is the Result of a holy Life It is written 1 Sam. 15.35 that Samuel came no more to see Saul until the day of his death Though Saul saw Samuel and Samuel afterward saw Saul accidentally but Samuel went not intentionally to see Saul at lest as formerly to direct 1 Sam. 19.22 23 24. and assist him in the affairs of his Kingdom until the day of his death Thus Soul if thou wilt decline duty if thou wilt not stand upon the pinnacle of duty if thou wilt not steer a right course and sail by a right compass thou mayest lose sight of Christ and see him no more until the day of thy Death yea thou mayest go down to the Grave in sorrow and die in a cloud If therefore thou wouldest sweeten the Thoughts of Death be through Christ in a right Reflection of Death and the Promise of Death and what it is not as to Terror and Trouble of the Promise and what it is as to greatness and preciousness Be through Christ in a right Reflection of Death and what it is not as to Terrour and Trouble I am now writing of a person actually in Christ and of the first Death Now there is no Terror
and Trouble in this Death to this person for these Reasons Because this Death is stingless to this person Reas 1. Oh Death where is thy sting If Death hath no sting then it hath much honey for this person Christ Jesus Judg. 18.8 9. the true Sampson hath slain this Lion and brought a honey-comb out of the carkass to this person Christ hath been the Death of Death for this person and why should that have Terror in it which hath no Life in it We say the living Lion is not so terrible as he is painted what terror then is there in a dead or in a painted Lion Because this Death cannot break the Bond of the Covenant between God and this person Though the House of this person be not so with God 2 Sam. 25.5 though the Head of this person be not so to study for God though the Hand of this person be not so to work for God though the Heart of this person be not so to lodge a God and though the Foot of this person be not so to run to a God and for a God yet he hath made with him an everlasting Covenant ordered in all things and sure The Covenant of God Mat. 22.32 is with this person though he dies I am the God of Abraham the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob They were dead when God spake this Exod. 3.6 Now saith Christ there God is not the God of the dead but of the living All are alive to him even the dead are alive to him As their Souls are alive to him so their Bodies are as living Bodies to him though rotting in their graves he owns them as much as when flourishing in stately Structures The Relation of God to Abraham Isaac and Jacob was as strong when they were dead as when they were alive Because this Death is called a Sleep to this person What Terror is there in Sleep What Trouble in going to Bed weep not saith Christ concerning the Maid Luk. 8.52 she is not dead but sleepeth It was Christ also that said Our Friend Lazarus sleepeth Joh. 11.11 but I go that I may awake him out of sleep Now sleep is sweet especially the sleep of a labouring Man Because this Death is called a going or gathering to Fathers for this Person Thus Abraham died and was gathered unto his People Gen. 25.8 Thus Jacob also died and was gathered unto his People Gen. 49.33 But as Death is a going and a gathering to our earthly Fathers so it is a going to our God and a gathering to our Heavenly Father Because this Death is called a Rest to this Person As sleep is a short Death so Death is a long sleep And as Death is a sleep so it is a Rest We usually say when a Man goes to sleep he goes to Rest yet Rest is more than sleep for sometimes a man sleeps when he doth not Rest Job 3.13 his very sleep being troubled and he troubled in his sleep but when Rest is joyned with sleep it is perfect sleep Job cursing his Conception and Production saith Now should I have lien still and been quiet Isa 52.7 I should have slept then had I been at rest This Life is a Day of working and Death is a Night of resting Hence the Grave is called a Bed The righteous shall enter into Peace they shall rest in their Beds When the righteous man dies or is taken away he is but gone to Bed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Dormitorium We therefore call those places where the dead are laid up and buried Dormitories or sleeping places Both the Greek and Latin words meet in this Signification There is a four-fold Rest Obtained by Death A Rest from Labour and Travel Eccl. 9.10 There is no workring in the Grave There is no work nor device nor Knowledg nor Wisdom in the Grave whither thou goest A Rest from Trouble and Oppression No Wars no bloody Battles in the Grave What is said of Babylon may be said of the Grave Isa 14.4 How hath the Oppressor ceased A Rest from passion No Sorrow no Grief in the Grave There the wicked cease from troubling Job 3.17 and there the weary be at Rest. A Rest form Sin This is the last but this is the best There is in the Grave no Law of the Members warring against the Law of the Mind He Rom. 7.23 that is dead is freed from Sin Because this Death cannot break the Vnion between Christ and this Person Christ and those that are Christs are one That they may be one Joh. 17.21 22 23. as thou Father art in Me and I in Thee that they also may be one in us That they may be one even as we are one I in them and thou in me that they may be made perfect in one Though Death may break the Vnion between the Soul and the Body yet it cannot break the Vnion between the Soul and Christ For as when Christ died Death did not break that hypostatical Vnion between the Divine and the Humane Nature though Death disunited the Soul and the Body of Christ yet it did not disunite God and Man in Christ So though Death triumph over the natural Union of the Soul and Body it can never break the mystical Union between Christ and the Soul The Vnion between Christ God-man and those actually His is inviolable this Vnion out-lives Death Be through Christ in a right Reflection of the promise in respect of the greatness and preciousness of it Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises 2 Pet. 1.4 Exceeding great greatest so the Greek In which pure and precious Text and Truth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ye have something implied and something expressed 1. Implied This is the Giver and this is Christ. As he is the great promise so he is the great Giver of the premise As he is the great Gift so he is the great Giver Given 2. Expressed Now herein ye have 1. The Gift Promises These are great things they are the Churches Stock they are a Believers Patrimony 2. A Description of these Promises 1. By their greatness exceeding great or greatest 2. By their preciousness And precious Given exceeding great and precious promises 3. The persons concerned in these exceeding great and precious promises 2 Pet. 1.1 Vs Given unto us But who were these They were those that had obtained precious Faith 4. The Medium through which were given these greatest and precious promises whereby Through the power of God and Christ in the Dispensation of the Gospel Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises That is saith one Gifts spiritual and eternal of old promised by the Prophets Gerrard The promises are divine conveyances of Consolation they are the Veins of Christ whereby his Blood is carried into all his Body The promises run with the sweetest stream◠when Satan rages with
As God is faithful who hath promised so God hath laid his faithfulness under promise I will not suffer my faithfulness to fail or lie His Counsel As God hath laid his Spirit and Gâ—odness Consilium malum Consultori pessimum and Faithfulness so his Counsel under promise Counsel is the Spirit and Quintessence of Reason Reason drops out and distills it self into Counsel It is an old Adage or Proverb That bad Counsel is worst to the Counsellor Princes formerly used to have learned men about them whom they called Remembrancers Themistocles had his Anaxagoras Alexander his Aristotle Scipio his Panaetius and Polybius but David in all his straights asked counsel of the Lord Psal 119.24 and consulted him as his Oracle Thy Testimonies also are my delight and my Counsellors or the Men of my Counsel The Orator said Men of Counsel are to a Commonwealth Margent as the Mind Reason or Vnderstanding is to any particular man Young mens Counsels Cicero Descriptio are very dangerous Jeroboam lost ten Tribes by following them Counsel is good Advice given and ought to be taken about things to be done The Grecians in matters of great importance did resort in respect of Counsel to the Temple of Apollo Ex. 18.26 The small matters were judged by the Heads of the People but the hard Causes were brought unto Moses God did speak by a Mâ—ses but now he speaks by a Messiah Heb. 1.2 whom he hath appointed Heir of all things Of old also they enquired of Abel 2 Sam. 20.18 They plainly spake in the beginning saying Surely they will ask of Abel and so make an end Abel was a City the Inhabitants thereof in former times being reputed just and pâ—udent were in affairs of weight resorted unto for Counsel whence it grew into a Proverb That they who needed Advice should ask at Abel Others think that this City-Matron puts Joab in mind of the old Law which commanded Deut. 20.10 11. that a City should be summoned before besieged and a Cessation of Arms upon embracing Conditions of Peace But to a Christ should the Soul now go for counsel and him should the Soul now consult as an Oracle who infallibly thus speaks Counsel is mine Prov. 8.14 Luk. 12.10 11 12 and sound wisdom I am understanding I have strength The highest and the holiest counsel is laid and left under promise When they bring you unto Synagogues Magistrates and Powers take ye no thought how or what thing ye shall answer or what ye shall say for the holy Spirit shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say His Conduct As God hath laid his Counsel so his Conduct under promise He shall feed his flock like a shepherd There is feeding but is there all no Isa 40.11 He shall gather the Lambs with his Arm There is gathering but is here all no He shall carry them in his Bosom There is carrying but is here all no there is leading also and that gently those with young or that give suck Oh saith the Soul the way to Hell is so much beaten and the way to Heaven is so little beaten that I know not how to go without leading Oh saith another the way to Hell is down-hill but the way to Heaven is up-hill that I know not how to go without leading But Soul leading is laid and left under promise I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not Isa 42.16 I will lead them in paths that they have not known Himself God hath laid himself under promise Ye shall be my people Ezek. 36.28 and I will be your God Who is able to say what God is One being asked what God was answered He must be a God that can give a Solution to this Question Now God Himself hath laid Himself under promise 2 Cor. 6.18 I will be a Father unto you and ye shall be my sons and daughters saith the Lord Almighty Thus there are four things recorded and transmitted to Posterity in the preciousness of them There is a precious Soul As the Redemption of the Soul is precious so the Soul that is redeemed is precious The precious sons of Sion comparable to fine gold Lam. 4.2 how are they esteemed as earthen Pitchers the work of the hands of the Potter These are precious in the eyes of God but vile in the eyes of the world There is precious Faith Faith is a precious Plant an outlandish Plant a Plant of God's own planting and of a divine Extract Faith is not a Native but a Donative it is Heaven-born and not a Slip growing in our own Garden 2 Pet. 1.1 To all that have obtained like precious faith There is a precious Christ Pearls are precious Christ is a Pearl yea the Pearl the Pearl of great price of greatest price It would puzzle and pose Lam entius not onely all the Saints but also all the Angels to bring in the worth and the weight of this Pearl He can never dye a Bankrupt worse than nothing nor a Beggar worth nothing that hath this Pearl 1 Pet. 2.7 Vnto you therefore which believe he is precious Or Honor Greek One thinks 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that the Abstract is put for the Concrete Honor for honorable and precious There is a precious Promise Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious Promises 2 Pet. 1.4 So that here is a precious Saint thorough precious Faith closing with a precious Christ in a precious Promise DIRECT VI. ART actually in Christ Direct 6. Drink then of the Brook by the way and lift up thy head Blessed are the dead which dye in the Lord Rev. 14.13 yea from henceforth saith the Spirit that they may rest from their labours and their works do follow them In this Bundle of Myrrhe in this Text and Truth so sweetly-sweet there is the Subject and the Predicate The Subject This is Blessing Blessed The word seems to signifie greatly blessed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and happy The Predicate Now this is referrible to two Heads the Pronunciation of it and the Amplification of it The Pronunciation of it Blessed are the dead which dye in the Lord yea from hencesorth saith the Spirit Wherein there are these things The Persons The Dead The without Heart so the Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Primum vivens ultimum morienâ— Arist for as Life beginneth so Death endeth in the Heart One therefore calls the Heart the first living and the last dying The Dead blessed are the Dead or the without Heart A Description of these Persons which dye in the Lord. In Christ Jesus the Lord in the Faith of Christ Jesus the Lord. Which dye in the Lord or for the Lord for the Lord Jesus for the sake of the Lord Jesus so Beza and Mede that pass thorough a violent death that suffer death for Christ and
love of the Brethren for whom my life in the flesh is necessary I am in a strait having a desire a vehement earnest and continued desire Having a desire to depart to dye and to be with Christ Death of it self should not be desired because this desire crosseth nature the grand desire to dye should not be to be out of the world but to be with Christ which may confute the error of those who dream that the Soul separated from the Body does sleep Which is far better It is very significant in the Original far much better or much more better Art actually in Christ Cordial II. Triumph then for Death will strip thee of thy Rags of Mortality Queen Esther appears before King Ahasuerus in her Royal Apparel If Joshuah appears before an Angel he must have change of rayment Could not he appear before an Angel in his own Rags How then shall a Soul appear before God without Christ's Robes There is no appearing before God in the Rags of Mortality nor in the Rags of Morality Self-righteousness is a Rag yea a menstruous Cloth Morality is but old Adam in another Dress Phi. 3.7 8 9. What things were gain to me those I counted loss for Christ yea doubtless and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord for whom I have suffered the loss of all things 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quod canibus exponitur and do count them but dung Dogs-meat so the Greek that I may win Christ And be found in him in him here and in him hereafter not having mine own righteousness which is of the Law but that which is thorough the faith of Christ the righteousness which is of God by faith Death is a putting off the Rags of Mortality and Morality that the Soul may be decked and diessed with the Robes of Glory Art actually in Christ Cordial III. Triumph also whether living or dying thou art Christs Blessed are they that live in the Lord and blessed are they that dye in the Lord. There are many that live not in the Lord and dye not in the Lord that living and dying are not the Lords but while thou livest and when thou dyest thou art the Lords for thou art Christs Rom. 14.7 8. None of us liveth to himself and no man dyeth to himself for whether we live we live unto the Lord or whether we dye we dye unto the Lord whether we live therefore or dye we are the Lords Now to have a Christ in Life and a Christ at Death is not this a comfortable Cordial Art the Lords in Life and the Lords at Death Go then from a Reflection of this Truth as Hannah did from Eli and let thy countenance be no more sad at the thoughts of Death Do men say the Nations are angry they are consulting conspiring and confederating against Christ and those that are Christs and thou mayst go bleeding out of the world or burning out of the world true saith the Soul but Christ is mine while I live and will be mine when I dye Does Conscience say Winter is coming a Storm is at Hand we may be near a showre of blood the winds are like to rise and be prodigious the waves are like to roar and be impetuous true saith the Soul but Christ is mine while I live and will be mine when I dye Does Satan say thy Life is uncertain and thy Death is certain Man is mortal and not a match for Death true saith the Soul but whether I live or dye I am the Lords It is said in the Life and Death of a worthy Minister Mr. Jessey That he passed unto Glory triumphing rejoycing under the very stroke of Death Art actually in Christ Cordial IV. Triumph also for Death will arrive and anchor thee in a desirable and delectable Harbor and Haven Ah poor Soul it may be thou hast as it were been at Sea ever since thy new Birth thy second Birth and hast met with winds and waves there with storms and tempests there it may be thou hast been without Sun-light there without Moon-light there yea without Star-light there but when Death arrests thy Body it will arrive thy Soul at a desirable and delectable Harbor and Haven yea at a Harbor and Haven of desire and delight The Navigator meets with hard things at Sea there is often nothing but difficulty in view danger in view yea Death in view but he forgets these when he comes within sight of the Harbor within sight of the Haven But Soul what Harbor like unto Heaven what Haven like unto Heaven when thou art landed at this Port at this Paradise thou wilt then forget thy Tryals and Troubles and Travels thy Sicknesses and Solitudes and Sufferings Luk. 23.43 And Jesus said unto him Verily I say unto thee To day shalt thou be with me in Paradise This Text is like a bundle of myrrh and being so sweetly-sweet I shall touch upon the Meditations flowing from it That unto the worst hath Christ shewed mercy at last Meditat. Thou Thee Verily I say unto Thee Thou This man had been very bad for he had been a Thief and Theft is a great Sin for it is the breach of the great Command of the greatest God This man had sinned and this man was to suffer for his sin yea to suffer death for his sin and yet Christ had mercy upon him Though this man had lived to his last day and possibly to a little part of that day yet Christ said unto him To day It is very emphatical Mat. 20.9 To day shalt thou be with me in Paradise The Saviour promiseth more than the Sinner asketh He that came into the Vineyard at the eleventh hour had his penny had his pay That Christ was God manifested in the flesh Shalt Thou shalt This Text and Truth prove the Deity and Divinity of Christ Thou shalt Had not Christ been God he would not have spoken thus and had not Christ been God he could not have thus spoken 1 Tim. 3.16 Thou shalt Great is the mystery of Godliness God was manifest in the flesh That words of Assurance are Christ's words No Soul hath a word of Assurance for Heaven until Christ speaks it John 6.63 68. The words that I speak unto you they are Spirit and they are Life To day shalt thou be If Christ be a Mute the Soul is in doubt I that speak unto thee am he If Christ be a Mute the Soul is in a maze If Christ be silent the Soul is sad A word of Assurance is from Christ Whither should we ge but unto thee thou hast the words of eternal life No voice but the voice of Christ will still the voice of Desperation If the Soul be comforted Isa 51.12 and assured Christ must be the Text and the Preacher too I even I am he that comforteth thee Not I with another not I or
another but I and no other That Paradise is under promise for Converts Thou shalt be in Paradise Glory is entailed upon Grace Happiness is entailed upon Holiness and the Crown is appointed for the Converts Head Thou That this person was convinced appears in the Context Luke 23.40 41 42 Doest not thou fear God seeing thou art in the same condemnation And we indeed justly for we receive the due reward of our deeds but this man hath done nothing amiss And he said unto Jesus Lord remember me when thou comest into thy Kingdom That this person also was converted appears in the Text or Christ would not have laid Paradise under promise 1 Cor. 6.9 for Paradise is for none but Converts of his own making Thou shalt be in Paradise The unrighteous shall not inherit the Kingdom of God The unrighteous as unrighteous and in a state of unrighteousness Mat. 18.3 shall not inherit the Kingdom of God Except ye be converted and become as little children ye shall not not so the Greek enter into the Kingdom of Heaven Persons must be converted as well as convinced and changed as well as called or they cannot be passed thorough the Gates into the City Ye shall not not enter into the Kingdom of Heaven Not not two Negatives strengthen an Affirmative That which makes Paradise a Paradise indeed is to be with Christ there With me Thou shalt be with me in Paradise What would a Paradise be without Christ What would Heaven be though Angels be there and the Spirits of just men made perfect be there if Christ were not there Whom have I in Heaven but thee As if the Psalmist had said Heaven would not be a Heaven to me were it not for thee Christ's being with the Soul here makes a Heaven here and the Souls being with Christ hereafter makes a Heaven hereafter Would not Heaven be a Baca a valley of tears A Bochim a house of mourning if the Soul were not to find Christ there John 14.1 2 3. Let not your hearts be troubled ye believe in God believe also in me in my Fathers house are many Mansions if it were not so I would have told you I go to prepare a place for you And if I go and prepare a place for you I will come again and receive you unto my self that where I am there ye may be also That the Soul of a Convert is a Blossom of Eternity and hath a Stamp of Immortality As the Mortality of the Body so the Immortality of the Soul is legible in this Text and Truth Thou shalt be with me and that in Paradise Though thy Body dye yet thy Soul shall live yea live with me Fear not them which kill the Body Mat. 10.28 but are not able to kill the Soul Though the Body dyes the Soul lives That when Time goes into Eternity then the Converts Soul shall go into Glory To day Thou art upon earth to day and thou shalt be in Heaven to day Thy Body is upon a piece of timber this morning but thy Soul shall be in a place of Triumph before night To day To be in Paradise is much but to day to be there is more The time accents the mercy For Christ to speak in the Future Tense to a graceless Soul is not so amazing and amusing as for Christ to speak in the Present Tense For Christ to say He that believeth not shall be damned is sad but to say Thou Fool this night shall thy Soul be required of thee this is sadder For Christ to say He that believeth shall have everlasting life is much but for Christ to say To day shalt thou be with me in Paradise is much more Though thou hast been sinning to this day yet after this day thou shalt never more sin All persons are bound for Hell or for Heaven for there is no Purgatory but what is in the foolish fancy of the blind and bloody of the barbarous and butchering Papists This cruel Crew cast all men into three Ranks Some are Apostles and Martyrs persons eminently godly these they say go immediately to Heaven Some are Apostates and Persecuters of the Faith these they say go immediately to Hell There is a middle sort of ordinary sinners that immediately after death go neither to Heaven nor to Hell but to Purgatory where they say they must bear the punishment of their sins until they be prayed out Luk. 16.22 23. But all Souls are bound for Heaven or Hell The poor man dying arrived at Heaven the rich man dying arrived at Hell The Soul of this Convert was to be where the Soul of Christ was to be and did not his Soul go into Glory Ought not Christ to have suffered these things Luk. 24.26 and to enter into his Glory Was not the Soul of this Convert in Heaven before his Body was in the Grave Stephen dyed in this Faith that the Soul of a Convert goes into Glory when his Time goes into Eternity or he would not have prayed Acts 7.59 Lord Jesus receive my Spirit They stoned Stephen calling upon God and saying Lord Jesus receive my Spirit Art actually in Christ Cordial V. Triumph also for Death will grave and that at once all thy Cares and Snares all thy Fears and Tears all thy Temptations and Tribulations Art actually in Christ Death then will grave all thy Cares Martha was careful and troubled about many things As it is said Luk. 10.40 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Luk. 10.41 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 She was cumbred about much serving cumbred The Greek word to cumber or be cumbred signifies to be drawn or wried round and round about so it is said Martha Martha thou art careful and troubled about many things Martha Martha she is named twice and the name signifieth Bitter as if Christ had said Bitter Bitter 1. Bitter to her self in making her self a Drudge and neglecting the Word 2. To her Sister in chiding and accusing her Thou art careful The word signifies excessive and sinful Care 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and Solicitude And troubled The word seems to signifie anxiously to be wreathed with the difficulty of a thing to be accomplished Martha was excessively and forbiddenly careful and thoughtful yea anxiously wreathed she had too much Care and Trouble when she was upon earth but she hath no care upon her now she is in Heaven Is not this the cry here Bread for the day Bread by the way Is not this the Cry here Bread for me and Bread for mine A little meal in my Barrel Eccl. 9.10 and a little Oil in my Cruse Oh says the Widow I am going to bake this Cake for me and my Son and then to dye But now Soul Death will grave all thy Cares for there is no work nor device nor knowledge nor wisdom in the Grave whither thou goest This life is a day of working but death is a night of resting This life is
was a time of great Debauchery when it is said Will ye steal murder commit Adultery Jer. 7.9 10. swear falsly burn incense unto Baal and walk after other gods whom ye knew not And come and stand before me in this house whereupon my Name is called and say We are delivered to do these abominations Was it so then it is so now Is it not then a time of need and do not those who are Christs stand in need of fresh and full supply from the God of Grace of the Grace of God The reason is evident for as these are to be good at all times in all places and among all persons so they are to be best in the worst of times in the worst of places and with the worst of persons A time of Tribulation is a time of Need. Christ was not without the Cross and shall the Church be the Christian be The Messiah was not without the Cross and shall the Minister be the Member be Ought not Christ to have suffered these things Luke 24.26 and to enter into his Glory Shall not the Soldier go where the Captain goes but this way the Captain went Heb. 2.10 The Captain of their salvation made perfect thorough suffering Did Christ suffer and not sin Shall we sin and not suffer Acts 14.22 We must thorough much Tribulation enter into the Kingdom of God The wilderness is the way to Canaan the Cross is the way to the Crown I John Rev. 1.9 who also am your Brother and Companion in Tribulation Is not this also a time of Need and do not those who are Christs stand in need of supply from the God of Grace of the Grace of God A time of Temptation is a time of Need. God had one and but one Son without sin and yet this Son was not without Temptation Mat. 4.1 Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the Devil Christ was made like unto man that he might be tempted and man is tempted that he may be made like unto Christ Our whole Life saith One is but a Temptation Augustine There is no Christian without Temptation Saul gave Michal to David but to what end That she might be a snare unto him and that the hands of the Philistines might be upon him Now Temptations are from without or within From without Thus sometimes from Satan they are Eve was not long in the Garden before she was laid under Temptation Gen. 3.13 The Serpent beguiled me and I did eat And sometimes from Fellow-Creatures Thus Joseph's Mistress tempted him unto whom he said How can I do this great wickedness Gen. 39.9 and sin against God From within A man is then tempted when he is drawn away of his own hearts lust Jam. 1.14 and enticed Temptations could never hurt us if Corruptions did not join issue Were there not in us tinder as there is in Satan fire were not the heart the Mother of Corruption as Satan is the Father of Temptation how insignificant would his sollicitations and suggestions be But where is the Garden without weeds where is the Gold without dross where is the House that is without rubbish where is the Heart that is without leaven where is the Man or the Woman that is without sin Is not a time of Temptation then a time of need and do not those who are Christs stand in need of supply from the God of Grace of the Grace of God A time of Declension is a time of Need. The Prophet saith Mic. 3.6 Night shall be unto you from a vision and it shall be dark unto you from divining and the Sun shall go down over the Prophets and the day shall be dark over them Was it so and is it not so Is not the Sun greatly gone down over the People and the Prophets too Over Members and Ministers too Where is that zeal for God and his Glory that formerly was in thee and in me Is there that affection Jer. 2.2 and action that care and conscience now in thee and in me as was in the day of our first espousals Is there now that desire and delight that frequency and fervency in duty that was in thee Rev. 2.4 and in me under our first conversions But I against thee so the Greek because thou hast left thy first Love Where is that curious and critical observance of the Lord's Day and of the Lords Commands that formerly was in thee and in me Oh that it were with thee and with me as it formerly was when that discourse was a lost discourse if we did not speak of a Christ and that Duty a lost Duty if we did not speak with a Christ Is there a decaying and declining in Grace and Gifts Certainly then it is a time of need and those who are Christs stand now in need of fresh and full supplies from the God of Grace of the Grace of God A time of Death is a time of Need. All things make to their center Man Gen. 3.19 makes to his center every moment Dust thou art and unto Dust shalt thou return Death is the way of all men the way of all flesh the way of all the world Your Fathers Zech. 1.5 where are they and the Prophets do they live for ever we know not what it is to shoot this Gulf when many come in sight of it they cry out Lord we cannot dye Lord we will not dye Lord we dare not dye Is not then a time of Death a time of Need and do not those who are Christs then stand in need of supply from the God of Grace of the Grace of God A time of Danger is a time of Need. Are there not wrought as it were so many miracles as we are preserved moments Ah! how obnoxious to contagion of Soul and Body and how obnoxious to casuaity of Body and Basket hath Sin left us 1 Cor. 15.30 Why stand we in jeopardy every hour These days look like the last days and in the last days perilous times shall come The Apostle gives us a Narrative of his dangers In perils of waters in perils of robbers in perils of mine own countrey-men 2 Cor. 11.26 in perils of the heathen in perils in the city in perils in the wilderness in perils in the sea in perils among false brethren Now Soul art in danger at Sea in danger at Land in danger of Soul and Substance in danger of Body and Basket then this time of Danger is a time of Need and those who are Christs stand now in need of supply from the God of Grace of the Grace of God A time of Dissertion is a time of Need. Dissertion is the lowest dreg of a Christians cup. To lose sight of Christ who is so taking a Beauty is a loss indeed For we are in the wilderness and have at most but a pisgah-sight of the Holy-land It was not enough to
2 Chron. 18.3 31. Chap. 19.2 3. Be joyous also for thou art on the best side As there is the worst so there is the best side The worlds side is the worst side Gods side is the best side It was not the Virtue but the Vice of Jehoshaphat to be of Ahab's side and it had like to have cost his life That side is the best side on which holy Saints and Angels are on which a holy God and a holy Christ are but these are on thy side if thou beest actually Christs That side is the best side on which holy Saints are but they are on their side who are actually Christs Though God hath a Bag for the Sins of his yet he hath a Book for the Prayers of his and a Bottle for the Tears of his Now all the Prayers and Tears of all the Saints throughout all the Vniverse are engaged for those who are actually Christs I have seen Acts 7.34 I have seen the affliction of my People which is in Egypt and have heard their groaning and am come down to deliver them That side is the best side on which holy Angels are but they are on their side who are actually Christs Sodom and Gomorrah were not a match for two Angels Sennacheribs Army was not a match for one Angel and yet holy Angels are on their side who are Christs Are they not all ministring Spirits Heb. 1.14 sent forth to minister unto them who shall be heirs of salvation That side is the best side on which a holy God is but God is on their side Psal 118.6 who are actually Christs Jehovah is on my side or for me I will not fear what can man do unto me That side is the best side on which a holy Christ is but he is on their side who are actually his For how many did Alexander stand For how many did they reckon Gideon The Sword of the Lord Rev. 6.2 and of Gideon But a greater than Gideon is here Christ Jesus the Lord who went out conquering and to conquer and for how many stands He Now is not that side the best side on which holy Saints are and they are numerous I looked Rev. 14.1 and lo a Lamb stood on mount Zion and with him an hundred forty and four thousand Is not that side the best side on which holy Angels are an◠they are innumerable Heb. 12.22 Isa 40.15 To an innumerable company◠Angels Is not that side the best side o◠which a holy God is For All Nations unto him are but as the drop of a Bucket Is not that side the best side on which a holy Christ is For He is the Captain of the Saints salvation Heb. 2.10 made perfect thorough suffering Soul thy side is Christ side and Christs side is thy side take now 〈◊〉 taste what manner of side Christs is Christs side is the strongest side Are not me◠for the strongest side but most men mistake tha◠side that is the strongest side on which Christ is Be strong and courageous be not afraid nor dismayed for the King of Assyria 2 Chron. 32. 7 8. nor for the multitude tha◠is with him for there are more with us than with him with him is an Arm of flesh but with us is the living God to help us and to fight our Battels God is incomprehensible therefore innumerable Here all natural and spiritual Arithmetick and Rhetorick are puzled and posed Christs side is the soundest side The worlds side is an unsound side an ulcerous side a rotten side Their Root is Rottenness The world hath a stinking Breath and the Air of the world is infectious Joseph had not been long in the Court of Pharaoh before he learned to swear by the Life of Pharaoh But now Christs side is a sound side there is soundness within there is truth in the inward parts yea 't is sound within and without The Kings daughter is all Glory within Psal 45.13 and her cloathing is of wrought Gold Christs side is a prudent side The greatest Sinners are the greatest Fools the greatest Saints are the greatest Sages Those who are actually Christs are wise unto salvation which is the greatest wisdom they have that wisdom from above which is first pure and then peaceable Thou thorough thy Commandments hast made me wiser than mine Enemies Psal 119.98 Christs side is a prevailing side He must reign until he hath put all his enemies under his feet A fourfold Conquest hath Christ Jesus made for His. Over Sin To conquer a Lust is more than to conquer a Land 2 Cor. 5.21 He was made Sin a Sacrifice for us who knew no Sin by Himself that we might be made the righteousness of God in him He slays the Sons of Zerviah within Over Satan Satan is a great Enemy though Sin be a greater but Christ hath made a Conquest upon both 1 John 3.8 Christ was manifested to destroy the works of the Devil Over the Earth The world is a potent Enemy unto all but a prevailing Enemy unto many unto most Few are a match for the world John 16.33 but Christ is I have overcome the world Over Heaven Heaven is worth the hearing worth the hecding worth the having worth the holding And to look for his Son from Heaven 1 Thess 1.10 whom he raised from the dead even Jesus who delivered us from the wrath to come Art actually in Christ Cordial VIII Be joyous also for thou art graciously interested in the blessed Blood of a bleeding Jesus But what manner of Blood is Christs Blood Quest Sol. 1. Christs Blood is precious Blood The Redemption of a Soul is precious for the Soul is redeemed with Blood that is precious If the blood of a Christian be so precious in Gods eyes how precious should the Blood of a Christ be in our eyes The blood of Saints is precious in the eyes of God Psal 116.15 Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his Saints This Blood is also precious in the eyes of Christ Psal 72 14. He shall redeem their soul from deceit and violence and precious shall their blood be in his sight Is the blood of a Christian thus What should the Blood of a Christ then be in our eyes for it is precious Blood Ye are not redeemed with corruptible things as silver and gold There is the negative part Silver and Gold are corruptible things though unto some as Micah's gods were to him take away these things though corruptible things and they have nothing left Ye have taken away my gods from me and the Priest and what have I left Here is a Redemption but not with corruptible things as Silver 1 Pet. 1.18 19. and Gold Silver and Gold may redeem a person in captivity to the Turk or Tartar but Silver and Gold cannot redeem a Person in captivity to Sin and Satan If this cannot what can the Blood of
Remedies for all Diseases found But Death He dyes and dying did assure No Drug or Dose of Death could make a Cure Let Nature now most fortifie that can Health's highest sphere a Crisis proves to Man One way to come into the World had all But to go out a thousand and to fall A Nail kills Sisera but by a Stone Goliah falls for he would stand alone This Giant now meets with a mortal Blow Right goes an Arrow out of Heavens Bow One wound Goliah kills but twenty three Great Caesar had and then departed he Strong Samson enters now of whom 't is said He Rubbish made and under Rubbish laid Thus Men and Means disputing Con and Pro Do act their Parts and off the Stage do go III. Of Honour and Policy CAN Honour No the tallest Pines are shaken By smallest winds and may not this awaken Sure footing Soul hath not Magnificence This may be in the Preterperfect Tense This Bucket-like now up now down is She But down the mot'on swiftest seems to me Could I prefer such have Preferment should Not that would Places but that Places would All worldly Grandeur in the Dust is laid As Caesar took so Caesar Tribute paid Thus ROMAN Honour passeth as a Blast Though Pompey slew slain Pompey was at last High Haman staged is making uproar Next to the King does now this Abject soar As to Design in Jewish blood he wallows As to Desert ascendeth He the Gallows CAN Policy No MAZIRINI may Strike Sail to Death and go this common way Ah where 's Pythagoras with prudent Cato Where 's Seneca with Socrates and Plato Where 's Cicero with Athen's Legislators And where 's Apollo with the Commentators But where is that admired Aristotle Yet Euripus would not into his Bottle So often ebb and flow this Deep that He Unsatisfied would the Bottom see But where 's Achitophel accursed may Such Policy be to the latter Day An ORACLE was He within his Age But hangs himself and falleth off the Stage Where 's Solomon more wise than any other That côuld detect the true from feigned Mother Ah turbid Death He was a mortal Sage And being mortal goeth off the STAGE IV. Of Wealth CAN Riches No or Truth is made a Lye But Wealth 's a gilded lying VANITY The World saith One to Man is God's Epistle But often proves to Man a vexing Thistle The World 's a Labyrinth my Soul beware And Michal-like is given as a Snare Ah bitter-sweet and that but for an hour Sweet is the Promise but the Payment sowre The World 's a Cheat the things thereof decay And Laban-like for Rachel Leah pay A Syrens Song and unto Whoredom pander Which causeth many Dinah-like to wander Ah England mourn and grow into a Passion The Spanish Mode is now an English Fashion Most vainly Mortals worldly things aspire These are not Food but Fewel to Desire Shall Hearts be set on that where onely Feet Should standing be hence bearing but a Sheet Job staged is and not for Wealth the least But greater than the greatest of the East His Substance winged is the Blow was such But Jah Jehovah gives him twice as much No Object for the Eye is Wealth and can This Object be unto the Heart of Man But worldly Men make for themselves a Rod Below a Soul is all below a GOD. Where 's Crassus Croesus Crates Aristippus Or Cyrus Xerzes Dives and Philippus Left by the World are they where living find them And dying they do leave the World behind them Where 's He that had so vast a Territory Who Ruler was according to the Story Of Provinces an Hundred twenty seven The Man is dead and gone to Hell or Heaven V. Of Fortitude CAn Fortitude This Mortals rarely deck A rare but rich Gem 't is about the neck Of Potentates refute it if ye can Son unto Caesar Valor makes a Man Great Alexander would immortal be Unwounded wounded mortal proved he Where 's little David yet hath little Fear Who killed both the Lyon and the Bear Philistine-foreskins hanged up may be As signal Trophies for a Saul to see Yea Gath-Goliah dreadful in his motion Had native Blood prescribed for a Potion Ah but he dyes as Scripture hath averred And in the Royal City was interred Stout Hannibal Rome's Terror where is He Or those stout Scipio's that would not flee Where 's Saladine that Oriental Victor Or where should I dig for puissant Hector Huniades doth next ascend the STAGE Who all his Race did war with Turcists wage In Battels many stoutly he engage And thorough Valor Turky did enrage To this vast Empire dreadful was his name Their crying Babes were stilled with the same Jobs iron Pen take to engrave his Fame My Narrative defective is and lame That to Posterity transmitted may His Valor and his Conquest be I say Where 's Scanderbeg who was so valorous And with his Valor so victoricus In more than twenty Battels he engage Proud Saracens whose right Arm did presage His Valor and his Conquest in his Age This matchless Valor goeth off the Stage VI. Of Learning CAn Learning This to Tully doth allye Knots-Gordian this thorough Art untye Which one no way but by his Sword espie But did not Tully and his Nephew dye Keep Learning in her native Orb and thus Shall due Respect be for Philologus Wher 's Homer Horace Zeno and Prochorus Or Xenophon Tertullus Theodorus Wher 's Plato Plautus Plutarch Theophrastus Or Memucan Alvarez and Erastus Wher 's Austin with his Tract of Recantation Or Ambrose modest in his Meditation Though Ignorance to Learning giveth check Yet surely this the Sons of Adam deck Thus Learning in a Lord as was of old Assimilates a DIAMOND in Gold Wher 's Origen so full of Allegories Or Moderators in the Consistories Wher 's Jewel who the Truth defended well Or Bolton on Death Judgment Heaven Hell Wher 's Chrysippus his Study might have bled him For ought I see had not Melissa fed him Wher 's Hilary for Stile so greatly eyed Or Gregory that was so mortified Wher 's Basil Beda too so preaching then If one speaks Truth the stones did cry Amen Where are those prying Ones of Issachar And wher 's Erasmus learnings morning Star Wher 's CYPRIAN so worthy Martyrdom With very many more but here 's no room Wher 's Moses mighty both in Words and Deeds Death unto Death the man in Moab bleeds Wher 's Cranmer Ridley Lambert and the rest Ah dead are these and dying are the best II. Of Terror ART out of Christ On Ebal stand I must And Lectures now not onely read of Dust But also Wrath that 's blown into a flame Almighty Breath is kindler of the same To Souls in Christ Death is most amiable Most terrible of all things formidable To Christless Ones yea this appears to me Of HELL the very Suburbs for to be Ah mortal Man If I may speak my Sense Infernal Dregs are in the future Tense 'T is pity