the man Luck 12. 3ly The proud and Grandees of the worldmind not they will be laid in the Dust where their bones will bear no badge of their Gentility These with the worldly go far in the way to Hell for their honour and profit 4ly Those who are carelesse to trim their Lamps and get interest in Christ and live as never to dye I Would press upon you all frequent and serious thoughts of Death from these considerations 1. Believing thoughts of Death would aquaint you with it before it come which were your advantage to make it the easier Less terrifying when it comes Were you Seasoning your Hearts with the Morning and Evening thoughts of it every day 2ly It would make you diligent in hearing of the word not knowing but every Sermon may be the Last the Lord knows this may be the Last to some who hears me 3ly It would let you see an end of all perfections Psal 119 96. That these who call their Lands by their Names Their honour descends not to the grave with them Psal 49.11.17 Nor will their Grandure distingaish their Dust from the Beggers Job 21.26 They all lye down alike in the Grave 4ly This would stir up to excelent thoughts of God there be some God is not in all their thoughts Psal 10.4 Because Death is not in them Job 19. When Job speaks of the Worms he has exalting thoughts of God 5ly It would make People more usefull to others and better neighbours It would make meek in passing injuries watchfull against offering of them Phlip 4.5 Let your Moderation be known unto all Men the Lord is at hand 6ly It would rectifie your Judgment of sin of Crosses yea of things Temporal Spiritual and Eternal Men in health living at distance from the thoughts of Death Think otherwise of things than in Sickness and under the apprehension of Death 7ly It will regulat your affections you need be very sober the day is but short Eccles 1.9 The wise Man laughs at the young Man who Lets his heart Loose Telling him for all these things he wold come to Judgment 8ly Believing thoughts of Death would beat back Temptations to sin Mortify dols and Lusts Job 3â— 13.14 They would say what should I answer for this when the Lord riseth up It would make people quit bosom Dalilahs and Lose pleasure in them 1. The proud Man minding Death would account litle of being like Haman the Second person in the Kingdom 2ly The covetous worldling entertaining believing thoughts of Death would not be so much hunting after rents and profits Judas-like selling their Master Math. 26.16 He said what will you give me and I will deliver him unto you And they covenanted for Thrity peices of Silver Nor like Demas who forsook Christ for the present world 2. Tim. 4.10 3ly Beleiving thoughts of Death would mortify pleasures and all vain delights They would be al 's unsavory as the white of an Egg the Harlot and drunken companion would be an ugly sight you would be convinced of the truth of that That these pleasurs Last but for a short Season and leave a Lasting sting behind them Heb 11.25 Prov 23 32 Yea beleiving thoughts of Death would make you double your diligence in your pace to heaven Eccle. 9.10 And quicken you to those duties heart-tenderness and bitterness for sin as the Text points Hezekiah wept sore It would make you earnest in Self-examination 119. Psal 59.59 And instant in prayer Rom. 12.12 And would be a notable spurre to preparation for Death Lay your account with it Death is inevitable and will not be put off as Dyvors puts off their Creditors with fair words flattery Suspensions Cautioury flight it will pursue go where you will nor will it bebrav'd out with a mans power and Station and there is none can loose Deaths Arriestment Therefore wisely reckon your time and the shortest count is the best Psal 90.12 Lord teach us to number our dayes that we may apply our hearts to wisdom There was a fool who reckoned on many years and had not a Night before him Luk 12 20. But Job more wisely reckoned Death a dayly door-neighbour every day waiting his change Job 14.14 Know that your holding here is not property but Tennent-right we should alwayes be on a call O make your reckoning and testament in time Josiah made a good Testament who turned to the Lord with all his Soul with all his heart with all his might according to all the Law of Moses 2 Kings 23.25 c. David made a sweet end who served his Generation according to the will of God and fell a sleep in Christ Acts. 13.36 Some great men have made an ill Testament as Jehojakim who was buried with the burial of an Ass he lived undesired and died unlamented none to say Ah Lord or Ah his Glory Jer 22.18 c. There are some who dies and none to say Woe is me for him but that he is well away and we are al 's well quit of him their Memory Rots and they are remembred with disdain Prov 10.7 But the Memory of the just is blessed and they shall be had in overlasting remembrance Psal 112.6 A good mans name never dyes they will speak good of him when he is dead who cared little for him when he lived they will speak good of Moses and Samuel now who would have thought meanly of them had they lived in their days Herod that proud persecutor who slew James and put Peter in Prison made an ill Testament he swallowed down Impious Flatteries and was eaten of Wormes or Lice that he died Act 12 2.3.23 Some have made an ill Testament at death who have used Hellish policy in their Life as Pharaoh who devised to keep down and crushed the People of God and would have had his Lust satisfied on them Exod. 1.10 and 15.9 I warne you great men who hear me from the greatest to the lowest many great men has dyed in Scotland within these sixty years Charity binds me up from speaking of their eternal state some of them survived their Honour and went off the stage as the snuff of a Candle your Honours will not go under the Turf with you Many has darr'd and given defiance to death that when that pale Horse has looked them in the Face and Conscience awakened on them changed Colours and quaked as Belshazzer did Dan 5.5 6 You who are great men had need to walk so as death be not terrible to you 1 Because few such are called and saved 1 Cor. 1 26 6. Not many Noble c. 2. Because many great men will be sore put to it at last Rev. 6.16.17 To cry to Mountains and Rocks Fall on us and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the Throne and from the wrath of the Lamb for the great day of his Wrath is come and who shall be able to stand Many who hold their head very high now Mighty men and chief
Captains may be put to it and some who hears me this day it may be their case I warne Your Grace and my Noble Lords and much Honoured Gentlemen take heed what you do the judgment is the Lords there be few Parliaments but some Members dye in the time or shortly after God knows within a few dayes where some of you will Land for Etemity I remember within these thirty four years of one who rode in Pomp to Parliament but warmed not his Seat was hurried to his Lodging took bed and his Sun set in a dark and stormy cloud he was a principal contriver of the overthrow of the Work of Reformation in Scotland Take heed what you do or design you must all dye and compear 2 Cor. 5.10 As the word is Be manifested discovered laid open your deeds your intentions your Cabin-Counsells there will be no palliating of foul things with fair Colours I will tell you to whom Death will be terrible and why 1. It will be terrible to them who have not their aggreement made with God not found in peace Them God will meet as an enemy 2ly These who has not repented and obeyed the Gospel As the foolish Virgins Math 25. Christ threatens the Jews they should dye in their sins unrepented of John 8.24 3ly Who ly down in the dust and their bones full of the sins of their youth Job 20 11. 4. Who dye in unbelief to such God swears they shall not enter in his rest Psal 95.11 5. Who have not their work perfect before God but rests in an empty name and profession Rev. 3.1.2 6. The backslider in heart Heb. 10.38 7. These who hears the word and does it not Matth. 7.26 8. Who sets their nest on high as the fool who said he had much goods laid up for many years Luk. 12.19 9 The persecuter and contemner of Gods People as Nabal 2. Sam 25.10.38 10. These who dye under the plague of a hard heart as Pharaoh Exod. 14. 11. Death is terrible to these who are self Cheaters and Deceivers who cries peace peace when sudden destruction is at the door 1 Thes 5.3 12. Who dyes neither to be desired of God nor man as Jehoram 2 Chron 21.20 13. These who dye embracing Idolatry as Ahaz 2 Chron. 28.22 He Trespassed yet more against God and Sacrificed to the Gods of Damascus 14. These who dies without the experimental knowledge of these three 1. Without the knowledge of Conversion except one be converted he cannot enter into the Kingdom of Heaven Joh. 3.3 2. Without the knowledg of Holiness without which no man if he were a King shall see the Face of God in mercy Heb. 12.14 3. Without some knowledg and belief of their eternal lodging 2. Tim. 1.12 I know in whom I have believed says Paul I know of a house not made with hands 2. Cor. 5.1 Quest But why will Death be terrible to such Ans Because then they will get no desire granted not a drop of cold Water to cool the Tongue Luke 16 24. The rich Glutton could not obtain that mean request 2. Then their Carnal propes and confidences are battered down their hope gives up the Ghost Job 11 20. 3. Because then God will be terrible to them He will meet them as a Boar bereaved of her Whelps and rent the Caul of their heart and devour them as a Lyon Hos 13.8 Consider this you that forget God least he tear you in pieces when none shall deliver Psal 50 22. 4 Because then fear and loss comes at once and there is no hope that their case will mend Now would you have death not to be a terrour but a comfort to you Then 1. Look to it through the righteousness of Christ who takes away the Sting 1 Cor. 15.55 c. 2 Be Zions friend and her King Christs friend and embrace him as thy Souls Beloved and his terms of peace prescribed 3. Look on Death as the Vessel that will take thee off this troublesome Sea to thy eternal rest 4. Look on death as Christ speaks of it Our Friend Lazarus sleepeth John 11.11 5. Look to it in the promise of his presence Who will be with thee when thou goes thorow the dark valley Psal 23.4 6 Look on Death as thy God's Servant that dare not touch thee but as thy God will 7. Be prepared for it Are you ready and your Lamps Trimmed I fear the Eccho of conscence in some is I am yet to Learn this Great Lesson Consider these things 1. Wishes and would be 's will not be taken off your hand Balaam a Stranger to God wished to dye the Death of the Righteous Numb 23.10 O Says the man I would fain be Godly Thou wilt not come to a Blessed end if thou get no more Says Christ Blessed is the man whom his Lord finds so doing Matth 24 46. Not so wishing that he had been better 2. Many meet with Death before they be ready what knows thou if thou get time at Death What if the Lord answer thee as Judges 10.13 Go to the Gods whom you have served Shall I take the worlds the devils your Lusts and sins Leavings 3. Consider you may be confused at Death It 's harder to dye well than is imagined Death will try to purpose your Graces duties and enjoyments you have need to be busie and be as busie as you can you will have enough to do to win to patience and assurance 4. Mind as Death leaves you Judgement will find you You will not dye twice if so you might take a venture Therefore deferr not preparation which is of universall and Greatest concernment If peace of conscience To dye with comfort To have the Soul bound up in the bundel of life be of concernment Then preparation for Death is of concernment If eternall well and woe to escape hell and come to Heaven be of concernment Then is preparation for Death of concernment Quest But wherein consists this preparation Ans 1. In laying up a store a good foundation for the time to come 1 Tim 6.19 To be wise as the Ant that provides in Summer for the Winter storm Prov. 6.8 2. To live a Righteous holy life the life of a wrestler with God as Jacob Gen 32. The life of walking with God as Enoch Gen 15. The life of Selfdenyed-obedience as Abrabam Heb 11.8 He went on a call not knowing whether and the life of a pilgrim and stranger Desiring a Heavenly contry Heb. 11.13 3. It consists in having the Heart Sequestrat from Lusts Idols and Creature injoyments Crucifyed to the world and the lusts and affections thereof Gal 5.24.6.14 4. In being on the watch-tower Psal 130. Luk 12.37 Blessed are those Servants whom the Lord when he cometh shall find watching 5. In having Graces in Lively exercise Faith ready for Vision and Hope for possession 6. In having thy peace within between God and thy Soul secured the Spirit witnessing with your Spirits that you are the Sons
of God Rom. 16 7. In dying in the Lord Rev. 14.13 Found in Christ Phil. 3.9 United to Christ John 17.23 â— in them and thou in me Commiting the Soul to him as a God of truth Psal 31.5 Trusting Christ as a safe Vessel to to carry the through O what an excellent Death is it to dye in the Faith of these Six things 1. That thou are Elected called adopted justified and he is thy God and that thy name is Written in the Lambs Book of life And thou has no more to doe but say Father in thy hands I commend my Spirit as said Christ Luke 23.46 2. To dye in the Faith of this that all his dealings to thee in thy life have been Mercy and truth and for good Psal 25.10 and thou wilt not question his favours To dye in the Faith of this that thy Works have been accepted and to say with old Simeon Now lets thou thy Servant depart in peace for mine Eyer have seen thy Salvation Luk 2.29 3. To dye in the faith of the promised Glory and of the out making of all the promises that thou can say as Psal 17.15 When I awake I shall see his face in Righteousnes and be satisfied as with the likness of God 4. To Dye in the Faith of this That Christ hath taken away the Sting of Death and thou hast interest in his Victories over Death Hell Sin and the Grave and that he will be with thee and measure out thy pain and make all thy Bed in Thy Sickness 5. To Dye in the Faith That God will visit his Church as did Joseph Gen. 50.24.25 6. To Dye in the Faith That all the enemies of his Glory shall be brought down and his Kingdom shall be exalted Death will give people experience of these five things Of the Vanity of the World of the Truth of the Word of the Bitterness of Sin of the Terribleness of falling in the hands of the living God and of the Sweetness of Gods Service to them that shall rest from their Labours Many Dye with strong Terrours not prepared and some Stupid ly down with a Lye in their Right-hand Isai 44.20 And yet are said to Dye like Lambs They are like a Man put out at the window of a high Tower in a Dark-night and falls in a deep Ditch sad is his Wakning Happy are they who are ready Willing and desirous to Dye 1 There is a Childish desire of Death like Achab who would Dy in a peâ—t for Naboths Vineyard 1 Kings 21.4 2. A passionat desire like Jonahs for the Gourds withering Jonah 4.8 3. A Rebellious desire like that of the Isaraelites Numb 14 2. 4 A solid and Judicious desire That is attended 1 with diligence in every duty knowing that shortly wee must put off this Tabernacle 2 Pet. 1.14 2. With laying up a store that wee may be accepted of him 1 Tim. 6.19 3 With a constant waiting for a change Job 14.14 Trimming the Lamps and girding up the Loyns with the wise Virgins Math. 25.4 4 With the knowledge of their Well being after Death 2 Cor. 5.1 Wee know if our earthly house of this Tabernacle were dissolved Wee have a building with God an house not made with hands eternal in the Heavens 5. It 's attended with an heart deadness to things here-away using the World as if wee used it not because time is short 1 Cor. 7.29.31 O for such grounds of desire The second thing I would speak to is That who would expect favour at Death would study Uprightness 1. There is a Moral Uprightness in reference to Mens Actions which a Graceless Man like Abimeleh may have by restraint Gen. 20.2 an Evangelical Uprightness that sets the Eye and Heart God-ward which is not an Act but a Gracious frame and habit wrought in the Heart which is the chief seat of it Hypocrisy is like a paint that only colours the Skin This is God's Work for no Man can make his Heart clean Prov. 20.9 It fits the Soul to walk with and serve God in the right manner and to design the Lords Glory as the main end The upright Man knows no other fountain of Mercy but God's Grace and no end of duty but God's Glory For confirming the point 1. It is the paremptor will of God which is the highest of Reasons God remits from the first Covenant with Adam of absolute personal perfection but requires a second Covenant perfection Gen 17. 1 Uprightness Truth in the inward parts Psal 51.6 Which is the highest Believers can attain while on Earth 2. It is highly well pleasing to God 1 Chron. 29.17 I know O Lord saith David thou takes pleasure in Uprightness O how well pleased was Christ with Nathaniel an Israelite indeed in whom there was no guile John 1.47 His countenance doth behold the upright Psal 11.7 they get a good look of God Wee should imitat Christ if wee would do what delights God John 8.29 He did alwayes those things that pleased his father who has no pleasure in sin Psal 5 4. â— This is the great and characteristical distinction that puts a difference between the Saint and Hypocrite in point of duties as between the Publican and the Pharisee Luk. 18. Between Cain and Abel Gen. 4.4 It is that without which a man cannot be a true Christian under the highest profession and with which a man is a true Christian with Less profession It is the very standart of every Grace and duty Grace without it is but hypocrisy and duty without it is but iniquity A Saint cannot want it to Season all his Graces and duties it qualifies all It 's like the blood that runs through all the veins the very life of the Christian 1. Faith most be unfeigned 1 Tim 1.5 There werea sort of people seemed to trust in God but were not sincere they thought not as they spoke the Lord could not abide them Psal 78.35.36.37 2. Repentance must be sound the Lord challenges feigned turning to him Jer. 3.10 Wee have need to pray Lord wish our Teares from hypocrisy 3 Love to God must be sincere or elss wee are cursed Eph 6 24 1. Cor 16.22 There were some who pretended great respect to God and undertook fair Jer. 42 2.3.6.20.21 but stood not by it they were false dissemblers in their hearts they never kept a word Jer. 44.16 They down right gave themselves the Lye and declared they would not do as they had said 4. Love to our neighbour must be sincere wee must love him with a pure Heart fervently 1. Pet 1.22 5. Prayer to God must be sincere 1. Tim. 2 8. Wee must lift up pure hands 6 preaching must be as of fincerity in the sight of God 2 Cor. 2.17 In a word wee have so much grace in good earnest as we have sincerity and no more Last reason none else can expect Heavens glory and who wants Hope of Heaven cannot dye with comfort Math. 5.8 Blessed are the pure in heart they
prayed and flatered God and Lyed with their Mouth for their Heart was not right with God 10. The upright man has comfort in the greatest Extremity and storm of his Life a bosome friend Paul when he had the sentence of Death against himself and others said this is our rejoycing the Testimony of our conscience that in simplicity and Godly sincerity we have had our Conversation in the World 2 Cor 1 9 12. This makes the Man's Face to shine and makes quietness within Prov. 14.14 Whereas an ill conscience is like a gnawing worm a heavy load above a burden Then sincerity gives comfort in the last Extremity of Death Mark the persect behold the upright the end of that man is peace tho' he Dye in Warr Psal 37.37 O that is sweet when the Heart does not reproach in a Dying-hour Job 27.6 and God not a terrour to the Man Lastly that Man has interest in that promise that 's of a wide compass Psal 84.11 The Lord God is a Son and a shield to direct Comfort and defend he will give Grace and Glory and withold no good thing from him that walks uprightly Quest How shall wee win to this lovely desirable thing 1 Be convinced of heart unfoundnes make an errand to God for it Psal 119.80 Let my Heart be Sound in thy statuts Psal 51.10 Creat O Lord in me a clean heart a study much the attributes of God especialy his omnisciency Heb. 4.12.13 All things are vaked open before him with whom we have to doe keep God in your Eye that is injoined Gen. 17.1 Walk besor me and be upright This keeped Joseph right Gen 39.9 You will never prove steel to the back if God be out of sight this keeped David right Psal 16 8 25.15 Keep upon your hearts the perswasion of his Alseeing-Eye what makes many so unstable they forget God 3 keep Heaven in your Eye this keeped Moses right amidst many temptations and snares he had respect to the recompence of reward Heb 11 26. This keeped Paul right that he fainted not he minded the exceeding and eternal weight of Glory 2 Cor 4 16 17 You will faint and give over if your Hearts be fastned on things that are seen you will take to the nearest shore so has been seen of an apostat generation The last branch of the point they who would have comfort in Death must have a Religious walk in their Life and do what is good in the Lords sight Walking is a progressive motion not like that of the door on the hinges that moves oft but goes not foreward Consider these things for clearing this point 1. Wee are commanded to walk in the Lords way and that constantly Deut. 19.9 Walk ever in his ways 2. The Saints have resolved this as Psal 119 112 and are injoyned to make inquiry after the Lords way for this end Jer. 6.16.3 The Lord commends those who make conscience of their walk as Zacharias and Elizabeth Luk. 1.6 Whose commendation will never die 4. The Lord threatens them sore who looks not to their walk Jer. 9.14 Lev 26.21 c. he will heat the furnace seven times more for them 5. It is one of the precious promises of the New Covenant that the Lord will give us his spirit to cause us walk in his way Ezek. 36.27 6. The Lord calls for it as a chief evidence of a Souls sense of Kindness that wee walk humbly with our God Mitah 6.8 7. The Lord's people sensible of kindness have iugaged thenselves to this Psal 116.12 c. What shall I render to the Lord I will walk before the Lord. 8. You will find the Lord quarrels no people so much for their words as for their walk Deut. 5.28.29 They had well spoken O! says the Lord that there were such a heart in them to fear me and keep all my Commandements the Man is only blessed in his deed Jam. 1.25 Many are strangers to a Christian Walk 1. some will not so much as give God fair words for all his favours but Sacrifices to their own Net Hab. 1.16 2. Some complement God in words and little affected in their hearts Psal 106.12.13 They sung his Praise but soon forgot his Works and waited not for his Counsel 3. Some with some kind of sense will commend God in words who never came the length of a Christian Walk profess they know God and in Works deny him Tit. 1 16 these are Self-cheaters Question Why are most people pleased with a profession without a Christian walk 1 From Ignorance of God as if he would be put off with fair words and bare acknowledgment this is a mocking of God 2 It flows from undervaluing of his Mercies as if they were worth no more 3. Because there is not so much difficulty in profession and words as in a walk It is Grace that must dispose to this the Devil cares not how much you complement God with Words if the heart be not toward God and your walk commend you not to him 1. As ever you would shew a sense of the Lord's kindness in your life and expect his kindness at Death make conscience of a Religious walk I press it with these Arguments 1. It is your Christian walk that will put to silence the ignorance of foolish men and convince others 1 Pet. 2.15 2. It s the walk that will best secure peace of conscience in the worst of times Psal 119.165 Great peace have they which love thy Law and nothing shall affend them 3. It is your walk that will keep the passage open to God in all your necessities the man is barr'd out who hears and does not Ezek. 33.31 he will not be inquired of such but set his face against them Ezek. 14.2.8 The slanderer and Adulterer what ever he profess he is not welcome to God Psal 50 16 c. 4. It is your walk that will difference you from the World not a common gift or profession Luk 18 In these a Hypocriâ—e may go beyond a Gracious Man 5. There is nothing sweeter for a Man to reflect on when the Eye-strings are breaking than for a Man to have that to say that he has Exercised himself always to keep a Conscience void of offence toward God and Man in his walk and in this Hezekiah had ground of Comfort but it was not the ground of his Considence that was placed in Christs Righteousness Vse 2. I would offer these things by way of Advice 1. If you would walk so as to commend God and expect comfort at Death set your Face to the right Airt to Zion Jer. 50.5 To Glorify God in all your Actings 2. Have your Salvation much in your Eye as preferable to all things Many forget they have immortal Souls all their care is for things below Heaven 3. Study much acquaintance with the word as the Rule Gal. 6.16 He that walks according to that Rule peace shall be upon him and Mercy as upon thee Israel of God