all one as if we were vnarmed Neither can wee bee sound and sincere of heart nor follow righteousnesse to the full nor haue the whole comfort of our knowledge hope and faith nor well manage the sword of the spirit that is GODS word to quell our spirituall foes if wee doe not ioyne to these much and often prayer For Prayer is as a whetstone to sharpen the edge of this sword to make it cut vnto the quicke and goe home and the furnace wherein the other pieces of this armour must bee wrought to their right temper that they may bee of proofe and impenetrable And if then wee bee thus armed Death can at no time set on vs to our hurt And what need hee feare the approch of death that being conscious to himselfe that his heart is voide of guile and vpright toward GOD and being daily imployed in doing Gods will and exercising himselfe to all righteousnesse doth vnderstand by the Gospell as a message sent from heauen that God is at peace with him is by faith perswaded of his interest in IESVS CHRIST and all his merits for the pardon of his sinnes and to set him free from Gods vengeance and hell fire hath an assured hope after death to enioy that incorruptible Crowne of glory which is reserued for him in the heauens and while hee waiteth for it doth walke vnder the safegard and in the light of Gods word trembling at the iudgements taking direction from the precepts reioycing in the diuine mysteries and receiuing comfort from the promises thereof and can pray with sighes and grones vnutterable vnto GOD euen in the agony of death for his mercy and ayde which at no time shall faile to succour him and much lesse in that last conflict and bickering The hills may sooner fall and the pillars of the Earth bee shaken then the estate of this man can be ouerthrowne euen by death it selfe It is so indeed that vntill wee be thus armed wee shall not bee hardy enough to encounter Death Wee cannot but tremble at the thought much more at the presence of that grimme King of feare For wee are in death to grapple with most gastly enemies much to strong for vs and breathing nothing but bloud and destruction namely sinne Sathan all the powers of Hell and the curse of GOD. It would daunt the stoutest heart to be thrown into the middest of many rauening Beares and roaring Lyons all naked without any weapon to defend himselfe or offend them And where is hee that hath the courage to encounter sinne accusing him Sathan and Hell gaping for him and GODS wrath like Lightning flashing at him if hee be not well prouided of this spirituall armour which onely can secure him in this conflict and keepe him that hee be not swallowed vp of them But as a faint heart would dare to enter the field against most furious foes that were furnished with such armour of proofe as no blow or shotte could pierce So get wee on this armour of GOD and we shall haue heart enough to looke Death in the face nor shall at that time our sinnes Sathans fury or GODS wrath appall vs being so thorowly fenced and armed that none of these can hurt vs who vnderstands that GOD is become our friend our sinnes are pardoned and that Sathan is as a Lyon chained vp stamping and roaring at vs but not able to hurt vs. With what a constant and magnanimous spirit doth holy DAVID expect the approch of Death I will not saith hee Psal 23. feare any euill though J should walke thorow the vally of the shadow of death And whence doth this his courage grow but from faith which made him see God present with him to conduct him safe thorow that darke and gloomy vally for thou art with mee saith hee Nay whom hee felt to be present with him in restoring his soule and leading him in the pathes of righteousnesse How cheerefully was blessed PAVL also affected toward death When hee saw it to draw nigh 2 Tim. 4 6. c. I am euen now ready to bee offered and the time of my departing is at hand c. And what is it that maketh him thus cheerefull and confident in this case First a good conscience that did beare him witnesse of his sincerity in seruing God in all his course and then his faith which he had kept sure and inuiolable as Verse 7. I haue fought a good fight I haue finished my course I haue kept the faith Next an assured hope of saluation which did spring from these From hencefoorth is laid vp for me the Crowne of righteousnesse which in that day the Lord that righteous Judge shall giue mee Verse 8. And in like sort whosoeuer hee be that is thus armed hee shall be able with equall confidence to stand against Death yea to bid defiance thereto with the same PAVL saying as in 1 Cor. 15.55 c. Death where is thy sting O graue where is thy victory It is beleeue me onely sinne and vnbeliefe that doth strip vs naked and maketh our soules penetrable by the venemous sting of Death Procure wee to our selues faith and a good conscience to take away the guilt of sinne and quell the power of it wee shall bee so solide and firme that Death may hisse at vs but not sting vs nibble vs but not bite vs and as it was told the Viper gnawing at a File that shee should sooner weare and break her owne teeth then fret the File So shall Death blunt her venemous sting and breake her viperous teeth but not fasten them vpon vs to doe vs any hurt The last thing that I would aduise vnto in this businesse is euer to keepe an euen and just reckoning with GOD. What was it that made the vniust Steward Luke 16. to heare of giuing vp an account with so ill a will but because it was not euen nor could hee render a good reckoning If a debtor be farre behinde hand with his Creditor and bee much on the score hee doth hang backe from comming to an account but if matters stand euen betweene them the one is not more forward to cal for a reckoning then the other is to giue one And what is it that doth more daunt and appall vs at our death then that wee see that our account with GOD doth not stand euen and that we are infinitely indebted and runne behinde hand with him thorow our extreame carelesnesse and ill husbandry It is a common prouerbe among vs that euen reckoning doth make long friends and wee dare walke openly and shew our face boldly before men when wee are cleere with them and owe them nothing It is then a singular course to make and continue friendship betweene the LORD and our selues to keepe euen with him whereby wee shall also obtaine a spirituall boldnesse to come and at any time shew our selues before him To this end wee are to imitate good husbands of this world who in their generation
and as a Bird from the hand of the Fowler If a man bee indebted to another and haue not to satisfie or bee loth to pay another mans debt his way is to humble himselfe vnto his Creditour to begge his fauour to sollicite his Friends that they would pay or at least intreat for him And this businesse hee must follow not coldly but earnestly not giuing rest vnto himselfe nor his friends till hee bee free and then for afterward hee must play the good husband looking to it that by vnthrifty courses or rash surety hee fall not againe into the like case Now it is certaine that wee shall not any day or time of the day looke ouer matters betweene GOD and vs but wee shall finde our selues further in arrerages with GOD then wee are able to satisfie It is not then safe or wisedome for vs carelesly to passe it ouer but ere wee sleepe or take our rest let vs get the booke crost and our debts cancelled For which intent wee must humble our selues to GOD confesse our sins accuse our selues vnto him acknowledge our vnsufficiency to satisfie bewayle our wofull case into which we haue brought our selues implore and bee earnest with the LORD for his mercy to pardon and forgiue our sins and to giue vs Grace that wee may be more wary and better husbands for our Soules in time to come Wee must try our friends of whom in this case we haue onely one who can doe vs good that is Iesus Christ whom we must by Prayers sollicite and beseech to vndertake the matter and intercede for vs with his Father nay whom by Faith in Prayer wee must take and present to Almighty GOD desiring him to take CHRIST surety for vs and to accept in our behalfe of that full payment and satisfaction which hee hath made in his Death and Sufferings And this beeing done wee must renew our Couenant with GOD and take new and vnfained purposes to leaue all our vnthrifty courses to bee good husbands for our Soules to keepe out of debt at least not wilfully and carelesly to runne behind hand with GOD strongly crying for his Grace without which wee can doe nothing to worke in vs a faithfull performance of these our purposes and desires If wee shall thus doe day by day it cannot bee said what peace wee shall haue in our soules with what boldnesse and confidence wee shall walke before GOD and with what comfortable resolutions expect Death As a man out of debt walketh boldly before men and is not afraid of a Bayliff though hee see him come toward him but if a man be greatly in debt hee walketh by night and whensoeuer hee goeth abroad hee goeth in great feare and if hee see a Bayliffe come toward him taketh him to his heeles mistrusting that he commeth to arrest him and haue him to Prison Nay feareth almost euery stranger I may say euery bush to bee a Bayliffe that watcheth to catch him So is it here If wee thus keepe euen with the LORD we shall haue great boldnesse and not shrinke at the approch of Death as if it should doe vs any hurt But if we neglect this course and abide securely in the LORDS debt as we shall haue little quietnesse all our life so the thought and approch of Death will bee most gastly whom we cānot otherwise apprehend of but as a Purseuant to carry vs away to Hell I will conclude all this with that of ZOPHAR Job 11.13 14.15 If thou prepare thine heart and stretch out thine hands toward him If iniquitie bee found in thine hand put it farre away and let no wickednesse dwell in thy tabernacle Then truly shalt thou lift vp thy face without spot and shalt be stable and shalt not feare Your affectionately louing brother and most carefull of your eternall welfares I. E. IN CONCLVSION OF THIS Worke. A Winding Sheet is here sent from a Friend To warne three Sisters for their latter end Shewing them how to be prepar'd for death Before hee come to stop their vitall breath A worke so great that who so findeth this Shall haue great glory with eternall blisse That tongues of Angells nor of men can tell The Ioyes so great the freedome is from Hell This Winding-sheete was onely sent to Three Neuer intending it should Printed bee But that which then was pointed but for them Must now perused be of many men Now God grant grace to them and many more That in reading this they may haue such store Of faith repentance and a sound conuersion To withstand sinne and all hellish temptation Then they may say to Death where is thy sting And to the Graue which is a cruell thing Wee conquered haue you all through Christ our head And so our Grau's become the sweetest bed There shall wee rest and lye without all paine Till the last Trumpe doth sound Then rise againe And then shall meet our Sauiour in the Ayre And so sit downe with him as in a Chaire Judging the Twelue tribes with all other men And after that ascend with Christ in heauen And there behold the glory which hee had With God the Father e're the world was made D. W. FINIS
stand our eternall Blisse or Misery namely to bee ready for Death and to dye in the LORD How doe wee forget our selues then that letting this lye by the walls wee passe away our liues as a Dreame and employ the most and best of our time and strength in walking the Streets on the gawdy Toyes of the world and hunting after the profits and pleasures of it which at the last cast when wee shall most need comfort will stand vs in no stead but rather adde to our griefe and misery This is an errour which holy DAVID doth blame in mens courses Psal 39.7 Doubtlesse Man walketh in a shadow or amidst shadowes and doth disquite himselfe in vaine hee heapeth vp riches and cannot tell who shall gather them They are but fleeting shadowes and emptie shewes of good things rather then things truely good with which men are deluded pursuing them with much sweat and toyle and vexing their soules with many feares and cares about them but alas all in vaine For as they haue onely shadowes when they haue got them so they cannot hold them nor yet leaue and bestow them to whom they would But there is a Wisedome which MOSES the man of GOD doth desire that hee might set his heart vpon Psal 90.12 LORD teach mee so to number my dayes that I may apply my heart vnto Wisedome And wherein standeth this but in preparing our selues for Death And to say truth this is the onely true Wisedome one dram whereof is more worth then all the carnall Prouidence and worldly Wit that is of such account with men though it fill our Coffers with Gold and bring in worldly wealth aboue our hearts wish The more that wee apply our hearts to this wisedome and employ our time about it the more wise and prouident shall wee proue to haue beene for our best good and the sooner wee doe see about it so much the safer worke shall wee make for our Soules Our Life is heere assigned vs to make ready for Death which if it were much longer and more certaine then it is were yet at the shortest for such a businesse how much more in this shortnesse and vncertainty thereof This worke then cannot bee too earely begun nor earnestly followed which is of that great importance for our Eternall good or ill and for which so short a time and that vncertaine is allotted vs. Heere then I desire you to goe along with mee and wee will consider what is the best course to fit our selues for Death and gather out of GODS Word which onely can instruct vs with this wisedome some Obseruations which by GODS assistance may giue vs all some helpe and furtherance in this matter First then it is a good step of preparation vnto Death thoroughly to vnderstand that wee are fraile and mortall Creatures with the cause from whence it springeth that is Sinne and the consequent thereof namely Eternall happinesse or miserie MOSES doth take his rise heere and fetcheth this wisdome of making ready for Death from a serious apprehension of our Mortalitie LORD teach mee sayth hee so to number my dayes c. Psal 90. What is this numbring of our dayes but to haue a right vnderstanding and to take a serious notice of our life how short and fraile it is Let vs know this and ponder vpon it with the circumstances therof and it will excite vs to an industrious and constant care of Dying in the LORD whereof while wee haue little right knowledge lesse thought wee are both vnready and carelesse to make ready for Death It is a speciall part of that waking which our SAVIOVR doth pronounce Blessed Luk. 12.37 Blessed are those Seruants whom the LORD when hee commeth shall finde waking A man that is fallen into a sound sleepe doth not for the time know what his estate and case is much lesse scanne and ponder it with himselfe It is the waking man onely who can and doth vnderstand the condition of his health credit and abilitie and employ his thoughts about them to maintaine or amend the same Wee may bee sure then that wee haue well shaken off that drowsie sleepe wherein by Nature wee lye knowing little and minding lesse our mortall state sinfull condition GOD and the future Life when wee begin duely to vnderstand deepely apprehend and earnestly minde among other Spirituall things our fraile and mortall Nature our sinne which hath brought vs vnder the dominion of Death and the issue of it which is as I said Eternall woe or happinesse It is not a common thing thus to awake and rare is the man that is endued with this vnderstanding of his Mortalitie It is a mysterie not learned but in GODS Schoole and that by the teaching of GOD himselfe onely Wherefore else doth MOSES craue it of GOD but that he was the onely teacher of it LORD teach mee to number my dayes c. Psal 90. And DAVID likewise LORD let mee know mine end and the measure of my dayes what it is Psal 39.4 By humaine Arithmeticke men attaine to rare skill in numbring they learne to diuide multiply adde and substract they are able to cast vp great summes and euen account infinite numbers Geometrie doe teach men to measure Lands to take the distance of Places the height of Hills and Towers yea by Art men aduenture to define the Compasse of the Earth the breadth of Heauen the height and magnitude of Starres and Spheares But there is no Art or skill that can teach vs aright to number our Dayes or measure our Life but the Heauenly arithmeticke taught vs in Gods word no Master hath any faculty to instruct vs hereunto but GOD himselfe who must open this mysterie vnto vs giue vs wisedome to apply our heart vnto it Nature and Reason can giue vs but a slender view and shallow vnderstanding of this thing What therefore is more common with vs then to take a false measure of our life who of vs truely doth number his dayes We imagine all our life to bee of many elles length which is but of an hand bredth Wee conceiue not perhaps that wee shall liue euer nor doe wee duely consider that wee may shortly and suddenly that wee must certainely Dye and that to our euerlasting torment if we preuent it not Children for want of discretion vnderstand nothing of their Mortalitie Young men who are in the floure and prime of their yeares thinke that Death cannot yet bee neere them and that it were but lost labour for them to thinke on it Men of more mature age encumbred with multitude of worldly businesse haue not leysure to consider of it And of Old men none is so aged who is not perswaded that hee shall or may liue yet a Yeare a Moneth a Weeke or at least a Day longer It will heere bee said that Heathen men haue worthily discoursed of our Mortalitie And who doth not acknowledge that he is Mortall I grant it and cannot but admire the speeches
which I finde in Heathen men wanting the knowledge of GOD and of his Word touching this subiect But how speake they hereof Much as a Grammer scholler writing or declaiming on a Theme which hee doth not well vnderstand vttereth many things wittily and pretily to the purpose but they are such things as hee hath gathered out of some Authors or haue suggested vnto him by others or fell from him at vnawares more by hap as wee say then by cunning Amongst many shafts shot by a blind man it chancheth that some flye toward the marke Wee haue read of some ignorant man who in a trance or sleepe haue spoken Latine and Greeke made Verses and talked of wonders which for the present they minde not nor when they awake are they able to call to minde Such like is the Discourse of learned Heathen men concerning Mortalitie which they learned rather by Ocular obseruation then Diuine instruction and of which they let fall some true and graue speeches but without thorough apprehension or full vnderstanding of the point For they had but a darke glimpse of that future state which ensueth Death and knew nothing of the true cause of this our vanitie and frailtie which they pored after in the warre and contrarietie of the Elements whereof our Body is framed but was truely in sinne that hath put emnitie betweene GOD and vs and cut vs off from GOD which was our Life And for the vulgar knowledge of our Mortalitie what is it but a fleeting fancie and swimming conceit that maketh no deepe impression nor constant apprehension of Death and the issue of it in our hearts It is with vs as with a man viewing himselfe in a Glasse as Saint IAMES speaketh in another case who for the present doth see what his face and figure is but vpon the turning of his backe doth forget it Euen so if some spectacle or speech of our mortalitie bee offered wee entertaine some slight thought of it of the nature and sequell thereof but in a moment it doth vanish and is shlipped out of memory ere it can take any firme footing in vs. Finally there is a naturall knowledge of our Mortalitie gotten from experience of what wee see daily from the principles of nature and literall instruction of the word A carnall man doth attaine to this but with no benefit while it doth shew to him onely the out-side of this mysterie and giue him but a slight view thereof that doth neuer enter his heart nor enlarge it to a serious meditation of his fickle state And there is a spirituall knowledge also of this thing which doth lay open our Mortalitie with the circumstances of it to the full and doth present to our mindes with such a cleere and constant view thereof that wee cannot but thinke vpon it and lay it to our heart An Image of it doth still stand before our eyes and a silent voyce euer whispereth in our eares that wee dwell in houses of Clay haue our foundation in the dust and perish from the Morning vnto the Euening Job 4.16.19 20. Whosoeuer hath gotten this vnderstanding hee hath learned it of GOD who awaking him out of the spirituall sleepe that oppresseth carnall men hath giuen him eyes and senses to see beyond them and pry more exactly into the mysterie of Mortality then they can do who doe but superficially know and more slightly lay to heart their mortall case with the cause and issue of it This then wee may resolue for certaine that wee are in a good way of readinesse for Death if once wee bee come to a thorough vnderstanding of these things and doe deeply ponder them There is none of common sense that doth know and take speciall notice of the comming of a friend or foe and their intent therein that it is for his singular good or vtter vndoing but will looke about him to bee in some readinesse to receiue the one and resist the other Euen so if the LORD haue once well enformed our mindes of these things I meane the certaine comming of Death the vncertaine time thereof together with the blessed issue of a good end and miserable of a bad it will at once in some degree make vs ready for Death and awake vs to a speciall care more and more to prepare our selues See touching this a worthy passage in CALVINS Institutions Lib. 3. cap. 9. sect 2. A second thing which will further vs in this worke is to watch for and against this houre of Death If wee will not haue the day of the LORD come on vs as a Thiefe in the night saith blessed PAVL Thes 5.8 let vs not sleepe as others doe but let vs watch and bee sober And blessed is hee that watcheth saith the Holy Ghost Reuel 16.15 Watching is a word of larger sense in these and such places of Scripture But by Watching I heere meane which sense is also in them included an expectation of Death and such a one as that wee looke for it euery moment and make account that wee may nay that wee shall meete therewith wheresoeuer wee bee The flocke is quickly wearied of the Woolfe and the House is soone broken vp and spoyled of the Thiefe if the Shepheard and Good-man of the house keepe not good watch against them The Watch not well kept hath oft giuen an opportunitie to the Enemie to enter and sacke a Towne to surprize an Armie and cut the throates of the Souldiers sleeping but the Enemie which is well Watched doth much the lesse hurt Thus wee must make sure reckoning that Death will take vs at some aduantage and ouertake vs at vnawares to our vnspeakeable hurt if wee set not a good and continuall spirituall Watch against him As then the carefull Sentinell doth expect the Enemie all the night long suspecting that if hee come not at one houre hee may come at another if not one way yet another and dareth not let sleepe to seaze on his eyes no not for a moment so are wee to bee in a like watchfull expectation of our Death at all times and places Make wee account that if hee haue vs not by the backe in our Child-hood hee will in our Youth if hee baulke vs in youth that wee shall heare of him in our riper Age if not then yet surely in our Aged yeares Doth hee spare you at home expect him abroad Are you layd in your bed looke for him there to disease you Feed you at your boord looke for him there to bee a guest with you Bee it day or night bee you alone or in company in the field or in the Towne at your sport or about businesse let this bee your thought heere may Death come and arrest me This hath beene the ruine of many men that as sometime carelesse Souldiers stragling abroad without order or armour presuming not to meete with any Enemy haue beene caught in an ambush and cut off when they least expected so they not looking for Death then and
Truths sake or by Death to goe away from them all Nay such ought to bee the disposition of our heart toward these earthly Comforts that when Death doth warne vs it should bee all one with vs as if wee had none of them and no lesse ready should wee bee to leaue our best contentments and fairest hopes to goe vnto the LORD then if our life were wholly voyde and destitute of them yea were full of troubles and afflictions The fourth thing which will specially prepare vs for Death is to looke hereunto that wee bee alway in a Spirituall manner well cloathed and armed from top to toe The armed Souldier is ready for the skirmish vpon short warning and the better hee is appointed with the more courage doth hee enter the Field If a man bee ready girt and fully cloathed you may dispatch him away on a suddaine journey which a naked man or halfe-apparelled cannot vndertake but vpon greater leysure So heere if wee haue our Spirituall cloathing and armour euer well girt and closely buckled vnto vs wee shall neuer bee vnready for this battaile nor vnfit to take our journey hence vpon the shortest warning To speake somewhat of them in seuerall Behold J come as a Thiefe sayth our Sauiour CHRIST Reuel 16.15 And what then Why Blessed is hee that watcheth and keepeth his garments that hee walke not naked and men see not his filthinesse Bee CHRISTS comming bee our Death neuer so suddaine there is no feare of our well doing if wee keepe our garments about vs to couer our nakednesse and hide our filth from GODS eyes Now what these Garments bee wee are told Reuel 19.7 8. The marriage of the Lambe is come and the Bride hath made her ready And it is giuen her that shee should bee cloathed with Linnen pure and shining And what is this pure and shining Linnen It is as there followeth The righteousnesse of the Saints Righteousnesses sayth the Scripture not Righteousnesse onely For it is a double garment wherewith wee must bee clad One is an inner garment so to call it that is the righteousnesse of Faith namely CHRISTS righteousnesse Obedience and Merits reckoned ours by GOD and apprehended by Faith The other is an outer garment that is The righteousnesse of a good Life through the sanctification of the Spirit that doth renew vs to the loue knowledge and feare of GOD and ingender in vs a generall and constant care and purpose to walke in the wayes of GOD. These are the Wedding garments these the pure and shining rayments of the Christian soule with the which who so is apparelled as a Bride beeing richly decked in her Wedding habite is ready to consummate the marriage with her dearest Bridegroome for is hee alwayes in readinesse to goe hence and appeare before the LORD in the Heauens For there is no good vse which our garments performe vnto our Body which this spirituall rayment doth not richly performe vnto our Soule Our garments first are couers for our nakednesse to hide our vnseemely parts and secret deformities from the view of men secondly they keepe vs warme and defend vs from Winters cold sharpe blasts and other annoyances of the weather thirdly they distinguish and put a difference betweene Nations Sexes and Degrees of men So one is the habit of the French another of the Dutch one of the Woman another of the Man one of the Gentleman another of the Yeoman Lastly they doe serue to decke and adorne our persons by their comely shew procuring vs acceptance and adding to our respect before men Thus if wee be cloathed with the fine shining Linnen of the Bride this Righteousnesse of the Saints our spirituall nakednesse is thereby couered and all our secret filth and deformity hid from Gods eye that it appeare not to our confusion wee shall also feele our Soules to be filled with much spirituall Peace and Comfort and well guarded against all chilling feares and killing horrours of GODS wrath that gripe and sting the hearts of wicked wretches then wee shall thereby bee made knowne both to GOD and Men from prophane and vngodly persons Heereby are manifest the sonnes of GOD and the sonnes of the Diuell Whosoeuer doth not Righteousnesse is not of GOD. 1. Iohn 3.10 Lastly wee shall heereby be commended vnto GOD and presented before him holy pure innocent and glorious and finde fauour in his eyes to bee accepted as his sonnes and daughters to bee reputed meete Brides for IESVS CHRIST and to bee made Glorious and for euer Blessed among the Saints It is a folly to tricke and trim our selues with any other garments against that day A silken coat though spangled with Gold and glittering with Pearles as starres will not doe vs any seruice at that houre Nothing will heere serue our turnes but a good Conscience purged by Faith in the Blood of CHRIST For all externall ornaments though most gorgeous haue no Iustre in GODS eyes and if they had yet at this time they would nothing auayle vs. For Death will strip vs of them and pulling vs out of our false and borrowed habite will lay vs and all our filthinesse naked to the view of God and his holy Angells But for these robes of Righteousnesse if wee haue gotten them death cannot rob vs of them nor plucke them from vs but maugre death we shall carry them with vs to present vs holy and spotlesse before God And in truth which is it that doth make vs shrinke at Death and so vnready for it but a conscience of our spirituall nakednesse Death wee know will drawe vs before the glorious presence and set vs in the view of Almighty God whose eyes are purer then light brighter then the Sunne whose Maiestie doth dazle the eyes of the Cherubins and maketh them to couer their faces before it Now with man is there so destitute of shamefaced bashfulnesse that being naked and besides mishapen filthy and deformed would not bee much ashamed to come foorth in publike view and much more to shew himselfe in a full assembly before the Prince and his Nobles Sure it is that King DAVIDS seruants whom HANVN King of Ammon had vsed with that reproach as to shaue off halfe their beards and cut off their garments by their buttockes poore men were exceedingly ashamed of themselues and loth to bee seene 2. Sam. 10. And how then can wee but be ashamed and confounded to appeare before so excellent and glorious a presence as is the God of glory all his Saints and Angells while our consciences tell vs that wee be spiritually naked yea very filthy and deformed and then also want this pure linnen of Christs Spouse to couer and hide our filthinesse and nakednesse from Gods eyes When ADAM and EVE saw themselues to be naked they were afraid of Gods voyce and out of shame hid themselues from his presence Gen. 3.8.10 But what nakednesse made them thus to feare and bee ashamed That of the body No surely that was a