able sufficiently to declare that we cannot yet make an Estimate of it AND as our Sorrows cannot but be justly Expressed in the Loss of so Excellent and so Vertuous a Queen yet let us offer up our Praises unto God from whom every good and perfect Gift cometh that he has not left us Comfortless that he has not cut down the principal Cedar that he has not deprived us of our chiefest Support and Royal Defender but that we enjoy and have a good King to Sit upon the Throne to Sway the Scepter and to go in and out before us to Protect us from the force of France and the danger of all Europe and that our Dear and Dread Soveraign may be for ever Happy in us his Loyal Subjects and we in so Good and Gracious a Prince let us Implore the Divine Powers to Protect Guide and Defend him in Spirit Soul and Body as for his Enemies let them be Cloathed with Shame but upon himself let his Crown for ever Flourish and let all the People say Amen AND now O all you Sons and Daughters of Sorrow and Affliction that faithfully Lov'd and Honour'd our Renowned Princess Lament your Loss but seem not to Bewail her Felicity do not immoderately drown your Eyes because God has Wiped away all Tears from hers and though in such a National Concern of highest Grief Natural Duty shews us to be Mortals yet let us not forget to be Christians and as our Saviour said to the Holy Women so may I with all Awful Reverence Express Weep not for her Blest Soul but for your selves that you are not so Happy AND this Sweet Advice Saint Hierom gives us Let us not Mourn as for one Lost but rather be thankful that we have had so Good and so Gracious a Pattern nay that we still have her for all still live in Christ yea though they die and whomsoever he thus takes unto himself are still within his Family THINK that you heard her Royal Tongue Express the great Farewel and in the most Tenderest Affection was pleas'd to say Farewel my dearest Soveraign Lord farewel I hear Heaven's call and the mighty Hour is come that we must part farewell my Royal Family and all my mournful Subjects now farewell each in your own order all must prepare to follow me Follow her then first in her Pious Example Fight the good Fight keep the Faith finish your Course as she did and henceforth is laid up for you what she Blest Saint hath now received a Crown of Righteousness which God the Righteous Judge hath prepared for all those that Love and Fear him G. B. Advertisement For more particular Concernment in Devotion read these Books following THE Whole Duty of Prayer Containing Devotions for every Day in the Week and for several Occasions Ordinary and Extraordinary By the Author of The Whole Duty of Man Necessary for all Families The Fourth Edition Price 1 s. THE Whole Duty of Divine Meditation in all its Various Parts and Branches By the Author of The Whole Duty of Man Price 1 s. Both Printed for John Back at the Black-Boy on the middle of London-Bridge THE Whole Duty OF Mourning AND THE GREAT CONCERN Of Preparing Our Selves for DEATH Practically Considered PSALM lxxxix ver 68. What Man is he that liveth and shall not see Death shall he deliver his Soul from the hand of the grave The INTRODUCTION THat needs no Proof where all are Examples to themselves such is that easiest and hardest Lesson that all must die that Death is the undoubted issue of Sin and that it is a Separation of the Soul from the Body for a time but because it stealeth on as they that sleep in a Ship-under Sail who arrive at their Port while they think not of going so we go on with a restless pace to the Grave and Silence and the unknown Limit of our present Life consuming while we are not sensible of it and because it is terrible to flesh and bloud our main care must be to inform our selves first what Preparation we are to make that neither our Life may prove uneasie nor Death terrible Secondly How to fortifie our selves against the Fear of Death And Thirdly How to comfort our selves with Spiritual Remedies against immoderate Grief for the Loss of Relations and Friends These Three Branches shall be the Heads of my Discourse I. First We must prepare for Death for Solomon tells ye 11 Eccles. 3. in the place where the tree falleth there it shall be and as Death leaves us so Judgment shall find us now as the Passage to the promised Rest which was a Type of Heaven to the Israel of God appear'd terrible Deut. 1.19 so likewise is our Journey to the Celestial Canaan we are instantly ripe though not ready for dying are all subject to this pale Prince to whom we are visiting every moment this day we now live we divide with Death and that which is gone is irrecoverably lost II. The Hour is uncertain to all Men but they are certainly Happy who are then provided Luke 12.37 many are apt to watch against the coming of Thieves who can take nothing from them but only that which a little Time must then what a stupid Negligence is it not to watch and provide for Death which they know will certainly and may quickly come and take away Body and Soul nay Heaven it self to all Eternity from the securest Sinner Thinkst thou of Youth and Strength alas how many that are young and in the Vigour of their Age have died before thee Dost thou at the Funerals of others think with the proud Pharisee Luke 18.11 God I thank thee that I am not as other men are seeing then that thou art exempted from the Privilege of Immortality of Body let not Satan delude thee but seriously prepare for that day which may prove thy happiest III. Consider That God is the Great Creator of the World and the Sovereign Judge of all Mankind Remember he sits above on his glorious Throne in whose hands are the Keys of Life and Death that whatever he pleases he brings to pass and none can resist his Almighty Power whatever he does is surely the best and none can accuse his All-knowing Goodness IV. Next If we consider our own sinfull State we may well cry out and say Unhappy we the Children of Dust and Ashes Why were we born to behold the Sun Why did our Mothers conceive us and bring us forth to a miserable World and unkindly rejoyce to hear us cry Whether alas has the Errors of their Lives lead us and in how deplorable a Condition do's our Birth engage us We enter this vain World with weeping Eyes but upon Death's Summons we go out with sighing Hearts V. All the few Days we live are full of Folly and Vanity and our choicest Pleasures are mixt with Bitterness the Time that 's past is vanish'd like a Dream or Shadow and that which we expect to come is not yet
Body for hunger is a Worm gnawing the Intrails calling for Meat or threatning Death Jer. 11.22 Lam. 4.9 Men being hungry and thirsty their soul fainteth in them Psal. 107.5 and by this infirm condition whereunto God hath subjected our nature he calls us to think on Death IV. Our Table as oft as we come to it is the Memorial of our Mortality and our food before it enters the Body for nourishment is diversly prepared as Corn and the like are made to grow by the dung of beasts Luke 13.8 and from hence is the strength of our corruptible Life So that we may say with Holy Job to Corruption thou art my Father chap. 17.14 But this not all but we feed upon Death it self and that by the allowance of the Almighty Gen. 9.3 in taking away the lives of other Creatures to maintain our own this is seriously to be thought upon as a wonderful Work of God that our lives are preserved by the Death of the Creatures our living Bodies are sustained by their dead Carcasses in their Blood Swims our Life and from their pangs of Death spring the Pleasures of our Life our Feasts and daily Food Now if those that in part were maintained by Sin-Offerings were said to eat Sin Hos. 4.8 then those that in part were maintain'd by the death of Creatures may be said in the like Phrase to eat Death So often therefore as we eat the Flesh of the dead Creature and make our bodies to become their Graves So often are we called to remember our own Death and our own Grave in the body of the Earth V. Another Help to preserve our frail Bodies is our Apparel which God hath given us to cover and defend them from Cold to preserve Health and herein we have a double or treble memorial of Death considering that our Apparel was given us when by our Sin we came first into the World to the state of Death Gen. 2.25 and when God first gave us our Garments he took 'em out of Deaths Wardrobe they being made with the death of the Creatures from whence they were taken God made coats of skin for Adam and his Wife and his Posterity Gen. 3.21 Heb. 11.35 our Garments therefore being Badges of Mortality and Cognizances of Death so oft as we look upon them we are called of God to remember Death and so oft as we cloath our selves with them to be mindful that we put on the Livery of Death VI. As Food and Raiment are Means to preserve Life so Labour of Man in his Vocation is a means to get both Food and Rayment and therefore an Help of Helps to maintain Life and yet in and by this Labour also we are called to remember our Latter End and to think of Death for upon Labour attends Weariness and Faintness even a failing and decay of Life Painful Labour sometimes maketh Men weary of their Lives and to think of Death and wish for it as for hid Treasure Ex. 1.14 Job 3.17.22 considering that in Death Men rest from their Labours Rev. 14.13 VII And above all consider the Labour Vigilancy and Care that is found in the highest Callings how many Thorns is there platted in every Crown Likewise in the Magistracy what Troubles is there in distributing Justice and in the painful Work of the Ministry who watch over Souls all these have through their indefatigable Weariness in Affairs of Church and State have thought it as the best Expedient to think of Death nay even to wish for it and consequently to prepare for it Numb 11.15 1 Kings 19.4 VIII And not only by the Weariness thereof but by the divers Kinds of Labour in several Vocations God takes occasion to shew the Vanity and Shortness of Life present and summons them by their Callings and by the Quality of their Works to think of Death For the Weaver by finishing every Web God teacheth him how his Days are cut off and the Web of his Life finished Isa. 38.12 yea before the Web is finished by the running of the Shuttle at every Stroke and every Thred added to the Web the Lord admonisheth how swiftly the days of his Life run away Job 7.6 Then the Shepherd in the Field by the removal of his Tent or Fold he is taught to think of the Removal of his Life IX The Travel that Men have by Land is appointed of the Almighty to put us in mind that our days are swifter than a Post Job 9.25 that we ride Post as on Dromedaries that run by the way in all hast to their Journeys end And the Voyages that Men have by Sea in the most swiftest sailing Ships is mention'd by the Almighty to represent the swiftness of our Time that carries us night and day sleeping or waking to the Haven of Death Job 9.26 and according to this Wisdom of God and his Example should Men make right use of their respective Callings Employments and Affairs of the World to see before their Eyes continually their Lawes End X. As Labour and Toil in the Day so Sleep and Rest in the Night-Season is also a necessary Help to preserve this Mortal Life and this Sleep is a lively Image of Death for in Sleep Men lye down as dead Men without Sense or Motion ceasing from their Works and taking no notice of the things that are done by others and therefore the Holy Scriptures describeth Death by the Name of Sleep or lying down to sleep Job 14.12 Psal. 76.5 Matth. 27.52 John 11.11 1 Cor. 11.30 1 Thes. 4.13 Now when Sleep assails us and like a Giant throws us down we ought to think of Death and by sight of our Bed to remember our Grave to look upon it as a Tomb or Sepulchre and every Night before we go into it to labour for reconciliation with God that so we may lie down and sleep safely IX Whenever Sleep seizes upon us let us seriously meditate and think how securely and sweetly do they sleep that take care to go to Bed with a just and quiet Conscience who after a toilsome day of Faithfull Diligence and Industry in a Course of prudent just and pious Living lay down their carefull and wearied Heads in Peace and Tranquillity and safely rest securely in the Bosom of the Almighties Providence if they awake at midnight their Conscience void of Offence comforts them in the dark and with Christian Courage bids them not tremble or be afraid at the Shadow of Death no nor even at the grim Majesty of Death it self but confidently and with good Assurance look up with the Eye of Faith and long for the Dawn of that Eternal Day this indeed should be our chiefest care to note and censure and correct our selves to strive for Mastery over our Passions and to dismiss from our Thoughts what no ways concern us CHAP. V. Of Sin the Means of Death of Sickness Youth and Old Age. OVR Sins the Works of the Flesh in Scripture are called dead Works Heb. 6.1 and 9.14
riseth up if Lust be quelled Pride starteth forth if Pride be subdu'd Anger exasperateth thus are we forced to a continual strugling with our Sins but when we die the Combat ceaseth and as for the present we are not under Sin so then we shall be without Sin or so much as the Motions of Sin CHAP. II. Of the Fears of Death and how to Fortifie our Selves against them Practically Considered DEath in all Mens Opinion is the King of Terrors and the most formidablest Enemy in the World to humane Nature now all Grief ariseth from Love and Self-interest and naturally Men fear Death because it puts a period to that Life which Indulgent Love and Weak Nature would preserve Christians were wont to assume that Courage that no Fear possess'd 'em but that of Sin they could Expostulate with the Law and say thou hast no power over me for God the Father hath sent his beloved Son to Redeem me from the Captivity of thy Bondage and therefore thy Terrors and Accusations are all in vain for this Expedient I have I will creep into the hole in my Saviours Side there will I hide my self from all my Foes and plunge my Conscience in his bleeding Wounds and by Vertue of his bitter Death Victorious Resurrection and Glorious Ascension shall I gain the Conquest II. Why should we then thus be surrrounded with Fears and permit Death's Terrors thus to affright us seems it so hard a task to Walk the Path which all our Ancestors have Trod before us Adam the first of all Mankind and Righteous Noah that feared the Almighty Abraham the Father of the Faithful and Friend of God and Moses the Servant of the Lord David the Man after God's own Heart and Solomon the Wisest King that e'er Sway'd the Scepter all these have Justly paid their Debt to nature and subcribed to the Law of universal Mortality Nay Jesus himself the blessed Saviour of the World has expired on the Accursed Cross of Eternal Shame and went to his Transcendant Glory through the Gates of Death III. And Now shall our Childish and fond Self-love so blindly flatter us as to wish an Exception from this regular and general Rule shall we be still murmuring and repining when our Life is but a Bubble a Vapour nay but a Span and still expos'd to innumerable Sorrows and Afflictions does not the very shortness mitigate and abate its Miseries and does not those many Miseries highly applaud its shortness should we not rather be glad and rejoye at the approach of Death that when e'er it comes it proves so advantagious to us if in our Aged Years t is a Haven of Repose and ought to be kindly Entertain'd after so long and tedious a Voyage if Death appears in our Infancy and Youth it prevents a Thousand Calamities and numberless Dangers of ruining our Souls if by an ordinary fit of Sickness 't is according to the Course of Nature if by any disaster or outward Violence 't is always the will of Heaven what occasion have we then to dread or fear how many Darts Death has in his Quiver when we are sure he can throw but one at us IV. Therefore to depart this World is an act to be done but once and that once well done we are happy for ever we must needs confess the Decrees of the Almighty are always Just and that 't is only our selves are the cause of all our Miseries for no sooner are we Born but we begin to Sin we Sacrifice our minority and Youth to Vain Sports and Follies and our Riper Years to Gluttony Drunkenness Lust and Pride we spend our Old Age in Politick Craft and Greedy Avarice and begin not to live till we are ready for the Grave then indeed we lament the shortness of our time when we have our selves like Spend thrifts thrown it all so Prodigally away for when we have lived and led a loose and negligent Life we then Complain Death seizes on us unawares we find fault that perhaps our days are too few to grow Rich or to satisfie the Ambition of a haughty Spirit but did we strive to be Taught the Love of God and to immitate the meek and humble Life of the Blessed Jesus it would require not so much the number of Years as the faithful endeavours and utmost diligence of a Pious Mind could we but bestow on the improvement of our Immortal Souls the time we so vainly trifle away on our Frail Bodies our day would be short enough and not seem tedious and long enough to finish our appointed Task V. Then what shall we but say to our Souls that our only business here is but like unto the Wise Virgins to Trim our Lamps and to wait the coming of the Bridegroom but to sow the Immortal Seed of a never failing Hope and expect hereafter to reap a due Increase it is insignificant how late in the Year the Fruit be gathered if still it improve in growing better no matter how soon it falls from the laden Tree if a Stormy Wind blow it not down before it proves Ripe let us then Contemplate on God's most Just and Secret providence who governs all things by the Counsel of his Divine Will whose powerful Hand can Wound and Heal lead down to the Grave of Silence and bring back again let us be ever ready to him to bow our Heads and freely submit to him our dearest Concerns let us say unto him Lord strike as Thou pleasest our Health or Lives we cannot be safer than at thy disposal only these few but earnest Requests we humbly make which O may thy Clemency Vouchsafe to hear Cut us not off in the midst of our Sins and Folly nor suffer us to Expire with our Sins unpardoned but make us Lord first fit and ready for Heaven and then take us to thy self in thy own due time for 't is not for us O Lord to choose our own Conditions but to manage well what thou hast appointed VI. It is true Death bereaveth us of a Mortal and Transitory Life but it is an inlet to an Immortal and Everlasting Life it despoileth us of our Worldly possessions I but it putteth us in possession of our Heavenly Inheritance it taketh us from the Society of our bosome Friends and Neighbours I but it sends us to Abraham's Bosome and makes way for our Society with Christ finally it severs the Soul from the Body I but it unites the Soul to God what is it for the Candle to be put out whilst we enjoy the light of the Sun for the standing Pools to be dry so long as we may drink at the Fountain for our Earthly Comforts to be taken from us when Heavenly Joys are Conferred on us the truth is Death is not a privation but a permutation so Holy Job calleth it a Change Job 14.14 and that a Blessed Exchange of a Cottage for a Palace a Wilderness for a Paradise a House of Bondage for a Place of Liberty of
at all the present Time we enjoy tarries but a moment and then takes Wings and flys away and never returns again already we are dead to all the years we have liv'd and vain 't is to expect to live them over again But the longer we live here the shorter is our Life and in the end we become a Lump of Clay and a Feast for Worms CHAP. I. Several Notions of Death what it is its Author Name and Nature FIrst If we would know what Death is the Philosopher tells you To die is to be no more Vnhappy and if we consider Death according to the right Notion it is but a departed Breath from dead Clay enlivened at first by Breath cast upon it Now Job tells you Death is a Moth and as the Moth breeds out of the Garment so Death do's out of the Body The Heathens were of Opinion that Death was an Eternal Sleep the Fear of the Rich and the Desire of the Poor but Pious St. Augustine often breathed forth this heavenly Wish saying O that I could see Death not as it was but as thou O Lord hast now made it Death is the supremest Monarch in the World as he hath the Dominion over Sin and he is the antientest King whose Reign began from Adam yet St. Paul tells ye 1 Cor. 15.26 at last this King shall be vanquished the last Enemy that shall be destroyed is Death and Christ who is the Resurrection and the Life pronounces this Sentence O Death I will be thy Death II. Whoever was the Author and Father of Death Sin was the Mother for the Apostle tells ye 1 James 15. that Sin when it is finished bringeth forth death and Eve the Mother of all Living was delivered in Child-bed of Death Now Adam falling Sin follows him and Man being tempted Death assaults him and by Sin Death enters Every Parent is an Adam to his Child infusing Corruption in his Generation Since then Death by Sin crept in at the Window or rather at the Ear which is prone to listen to Evil Counsel let us cast it out by the Sense of Faith in hearkning to God's Word which will make us wise unto Salvation III. As for the Name of Death it is called a Sleep so St. John terms it Chap. 11.11 Our friend Lazarus sleepeth and of St. Stephen it is recorded in Holy Writ after he had done praying for his Persecutors When he had said this he fell asleep 7. Acts 60. it is likewise said of the Patriarchs and Kings of Judah that they slept with their Fathers and Job expresseth That man lieth down and riseth not he shall not be awaked out of sleep till the heavens shall be no more Likewise Saint Paul mentions in his Mystery We shall not all sleep but we shall all be changed 1 Cor. 15.51 The Night is the Emblem of Sleep and Mortality Now Sleep is but the Shadow of Death and where the Shadow is the Substance cannot be far off Lastly the Grave it self is but a withdrawing Room to retire in for a time it is going to Bed to take rest which is sweeter than Sleep and when it is time to awake and rise we shall as the Royal Psalmist says be satisfied IV. Next as to the Nature of Death few or none know it though all must sensibly feel it there is nothing after Death and therefore Death is nothing it is without Essence or Substance but a privation which kills he Creature therefore curiously to â—quest the Efficiency of it were but to employ the Eye to behold Darkness Salomon in his Book of Wisdom Chap. 1.13 mentions that God made not Death but created all things that were good this caused good St. Augustine to breathe forth this Supplication Lord thou hast not made Death wherefore I beseech thee suffer not that which thou hast not made to reign over that which thou hast made Now Death came into the World by Man only whose Soul was affected to know that which God never made which was the Evil of Death thinking it had been very good by desiring to know the worst of Evils But so Divine a thing is Knowledge that we see Innocency it self was ambitious of it from whence that Proverb is derived That Evil is not known but by good V. Pet no Learned Man knows so much but Ignorance may suffer him to commit Evil for none of a sound Judgment and right understanding can be guilty of Wickedness and there is no fear of knowing too much Good but there is much Fear of practising too little But since the Almighty has revealed in his word more than we can comprehend and enough to work out our Salvation let us attain to sober Knowledge and not repine but be content with our Ignorance Indeed Knowledge and Power are the Worldling's Idol but let every Man endeavour fully to know himself and then Pride and Ambition will soon vanish CHAP. II. That Death hath no respect of Persons but we are continually dying whilst we live ALthough Men cannot or are unwilling to pay those Worldly Obligations they lye under yet they must pay this Debt to Nature and it is a Favour afforded by Nature that what she hath made most vexatious she hath made Common that the Equality of Fate might mitigate the Cruelty of it and this Question the Psalmist asketh What Man is he that liveth and shall not see death II. Our Saviour told the Jews their Fathers did eat Manna in the Wilderness and are dead 6 John 49. and the Apostle tells ye Phil. 2.8 that Christ being found in fashion as a man he humbled himself and became obedient unto Death even the death of the Cross. So that we see it is as natural to die as to be conceived and born yet it is improper for us to say Men die Naturally for Man dies not as a Beast by an Annihilation but by a Decree from Heaven it is appointed for all Men once to dye Heb. 9.27 III. Sickness the Messenger of Death respects not the best Complexion the Sores of Lazarus will make as good Dust as the Paint and Washes of Jezabel and like Jonas his Gourd we come up in a night and are gone in a moment we come naked into the World and no sooner we are born but the Grave waits for us but to continue in the Body is not the request of those which desire Heaven for the Apostle he desired to be dissolved and the Psalmist crys out As the hart pants after the Water-Brooks so longeth my Soul after thee O God Psal. 42.1 Death only shortens Time not Life and the Merit of Death is the Debt due to Sin both impos'd on Mankind for Sin IV. Now if we cast never so bright a Lustre in the World yet alas our brittle Bodies how quickly are they broken Man says Jeremiah fades like a leaf and sin like a wind takes him away Let a Man live never so long yet at last Death seizes him but to consider aright
before him and require them to prostrate their Souls at his Footstool in seeking his Favour and Mercy in his dear Son even as their Bodies are prostrate by his Hand of Visitation V. This very Position of the Body represents unto us how the Grass withereth and the Flower falleth and admonisheth our Souls to worship and fall down and kneel before the Lord our maker Psal. 95.6 and by Faith to enforce our Bodies also leaning on our staff to worship upon the head of our bed Heb. 11.21 Gen. 47.31 and 48.2 that he may straightway lift us up for ever as Jacob bowed himself to the Ground seven times at the approach of his Brother Esau Gen. 33.3 So the Lord by Sickness bows us down that we may come submissively into his presence humbling our selves under his mighty hand that he may exalt us in his due rime 1 Pet. 5.6 VI. Another Warning to think of our Latter End is that distaste of Meat and want of Appetite in Sick Persons when their life abhorreth bread and their Soul dainty meat Job 33.20 when the Staff of Bread fails and the stay of Natural Life is withdrawn then God summons the sick Persons to remember their end to double their Care for Eternal Life to seek the hidden Manna unknown and unregarded of the World Rev. 2.17 to feed upon that bread which cometh down from heaven and giveth Life unto the world John 6.33 by applying of his Promises and tasting the Sweetness that is in them VII Again when Sleep departs through Sickness this is another distinct Warning to move Men to think of their End God holds their Eyes waking that they might meditate on their present Frailty thereby are they called to commune with their heart and that their Spirit make diligent search concerning their Estate and the Means of their Comfort Psal. 77.4 5 6. God withdraws Sleep from their Eyes and Rest from their Temples that they might remember the Eternal Rest from all their Troubles and might long after it and prepare for it VIII Now precedent Pains the Sick Bed the loathing of Meats and the Departure of Sleep these are Occasions and Furtherances of Meditation to remember our End Now on the other hand there are as many Hinderances of Meditation and Disturbances of the Mind which meet with Men upon their Beds of Mortality which to avoid that Obstruction the Consideration of those Inconveniencies should prove as Motives to persuade us not to deferr our making our Peace with God to the last Moment of Time that so we may profitably forecast before it is too late IX It happens sometimes in Sickness that as some want Sleep so others in contrary Extremity are oppressed with continual slumbering and sleeping which with an unresistable Necessity invades them and this not only in Lethargies Palsies and other cold Diseases but likewise in many Burning and Pestilential Fevers during which time they lie senseless and cannot think on their present Danger nor of any thing which belongs to a due Preparation for their End this leaden Sleep is a black Cloud of Death a Night-shade and a particular Darkness of which in its measure is verified that more general Saying of our Saviour John 9.4 the night comes wherein no man can work and therefore while there is Light and Liberty of mind in the time of Health our End is to be remembred and provided for before the Hours of Oppression doth seize upon our Mind X. Sometimes in Sickness though Sleep oppress not there is a kind of raving Distraction caused by Phrensie Melancholy or other Distemperatures which doth overwhelm the Mind as Nebuchadnezzar's once was by the Finger of the Almighty Dan. 4. so that it is unfit to think of Death or to seek any Comfort against the Danger of it and from hence therefore it doth likewise appear how unwise they are that deferr the Time of their Repentance unto the Time of Death when it is uncertain whether they shall be Masters of their own Wits and Natural Understanding not to speak of supernatural Grace which is far above the reach of Man and yet necessary to Salvation XI Sometimes the very Vehemency and Extremity of Pain doth trouble and disturb the Mind and disables it that it cannot orderly and quietly dispose it self unto Godly and Comfortable Meditations but being overcome with Impatience frets and murmures it s tossed to and fro and becomes fruitless therefore are these Extremities of Anguish compar'd to a Cup of intoxicating Wine making Men as it were overcome with grief Isa. 51.17.21 22. Lam. 4.21 and even frantick with woe and sorrow that they know not what they doe Deut. 28.34 Jer. 25.16 Eccles. 7.7 and what Folly is it then for Men to be unprepared through forgetfulness of their Latter End and to remain stupified in Security all their Life till they are plunged in a Gulf of Misery Perplexity and Extremity of Anguish may justly come as a Snare upon them that abuse their present Peace and Quietness by promising themselves Liberty and Power to dispatch all that is necessary for their Salvation at the last Moment XII And commonly when Death approacheth our Adversary the Devil that goes about like a roaring Lion seeking to devour us at all Opportunities doth then especially rage knowing that his time is short Rev. 12.12 and withall seeks to take Advantage of our present Weakness by insinuating himself into each of our former Perplexities and adding frightful Dreams to our Slumbers strong Fancies to our Distraction and aggravating our Pains with great Terrours by that Voice which is within us XIII Experience may inform us what great Temptations many have conflicted with upon their Beds of Mortality and therefore the Consideration of this last Great Enterprize should alarm every one betimes to arm themselves against the Last Day of their Lives to furnish themselves with a Competency of Grace against the Day of Glory to seek Truth and Righteousness Faith and Patience to heap up store of Comfortable Promises out of the Word of God and to lay it up in their Hearts to be kept in readiness whereby they may nourish up themselves in Hope and be vigilant in praying uncessantly that having finished this last Combat and obtained the Victory they may then be translated from a State Militant to a State Triumphant for ever CHAP. VII Of the Separation of Soul and Body with other Memorials of Mortality Practically Considered THE Divine Providence has ordained that at the Hour of Death the Soul and Body shall be separated and at this Separation the Soul is conveyed away invisibly no Man knoweth how nor whither for no Humane Sense can discern the Spirit of Man ascending Eccles. 3.21 for God in his unsearchable Council orders his secret Will to be kept unrevealed from Humane Understanding Now this secret manner of translating the separated Souls by carrying some close Prisoners to endless Misery and transporting others in invisible Chariots unto Eternal Glory serves to warn and
admonish us to remember the Evident Monuments of our Frailty when secret Things are hidden from us by the Almighty those which are Revealed are the more to be observ'd by us Deut. 29.29 II. The Scriptures will inform us how some Persons Men or Angels have vanished out of the sight of those they had convers'd with and from thence we are to observe that it is not requisite for us to know what they had heard and seen or to pry narrowly into that which the Divine Wisdom has ordered to be kept from us Luke 24.31 32. Acts 8.39 Judg. 6.21 22. Moreover God hath appointed that they should not be suffered to live which attempted to converse with the Spirits of those which were departed from us Lev. 20.27 1 Sam. 28.8 9. c. But by all this we are so much the more lead to observe the common visible Memorials of Mortality shewed unto us in them that die before us III. Furthermore it is to be observ'd that when the Spirit is return'd away presently to God that gave it yet the Body remains and returns to the Dust from whence it was taken Eccles. 12.7 If the Almighty by Death had taken away both Soul and Body or if it had pleased him to take away all Men as Enoch and Elias were Heb. 11.5 Gen. 5.14 2 Kings 2.11.17 or to bury all Men so as Moses was Deut. 34.6 namely so as their Bodies should be seen no more among Men yet even then there were occasion enough to remember that wonderful great and final Translation but now seeing every Man departing this Life leaves a part of himself on Earth among his Friends yea and that visible Part even the Body which was best known among Men God by this frail Part of Man that is left gives us occasion to contemplate what is done with the immortal part and to keep in Memory the Death past to prepare us for the Death to come As Elias ascending to Heaven let fall his Mantle for a Remembrance unto Elisha that took it up 2 Kings 2.13 so we ascending do let fall our Flesh that hath been the Mantle of the Soul under which it was veiled and covered in the Days of our Mortality Now by this Pledge the dead warns the living to part from the love of Vanity and to make ready for this Change when the Soul departs more naked out of the World than it came into it V. Besides the Body is left behind as a Pledge of our Corruption to imprint into our minds the horrour of Death through that putrefaction which soon invades it when it is deprived of the Souls presence had the Body remained only without Life and retained its former Comeliness and Beauty and not been liable to putrefaction how then would their dearest Relations and Friends have choicely kept them and lovingly embrac'd them but now by the divine appointment the body is Sown in Corruption 1 Cor. 15.42 the Royal Body of David sees Corruption Acts. 13.36 the Body of Lazarus the Friend of Christ begins to Stink the Fourth Day John 11.39 the Fair Body of Sarah whose Beauteous Countenance charmed Kings and Princes she being dead must needs be removed out of the sight of her most Faithfull and Loving Husband Gen. 23.4 VI. And in such a degree hath Corruption prevailed that some Bodies hath been forced to be buried very deep in the Earth So noysome have they been and soon putrefied but though they are not to be looked upon with the Eye yet they are the more to be thought upon and our fading Estate to be Reflected on by this Serious Reflection Job humbled himself confessing that Corruption was his Father and to the worm thou art my mother and sister Job 17.14 and by this Consideration might be humbled the Proudest and most Ambitious Heart when they Seriously Reflect how the Wormes breed out of their own Corruption and surround their whole Carcasse Isa. 14.11 these are the Laws and Ordinances of Death established by the Almighty whereby he call us the more effectually to think of our End not to pamper the Flesh nor to take so much Care for our Bodies as we do for our Souls according to this Example of God who shews more respect and love to the Soul by receiving of it into his Glorious Kingdom whereas he suffers the Body to lodge in the Pit of Corruption 1 Cor. 15.43 VII The Sequestration of the Body from the Place where the Soul is and the Corruption of it being Separate are mememorials wrought immediately by the Hand God Now besides these there is other after warnings of Death effected by the providence of God by the affections and respects of Men that is paid to the Honour of the dead and Comfort of the living Now for the Honour of the dead Holy Men of Old have shewed great Care to provide Sepulchers Tombes and Monuments for them such was the Cave of Machpelah purchas'd by Abraham Gen. 49.30.31 the Pillar on Rachels Grave that Jacob set up Gen. 35.20 that continued so many Generations to Samuel's time 1 Sam. 10.2 the Title on the Sepulcher of the Man of God that Prophesied of Josias 2 Kings 23.17 18. the Sepulcher of David that continued twice Fourteen Generations from David to the Apostles time Acte 2.29 having been preserved in the time of the Babylonian Captivity even then when both City and Temple were destroyed these in Scripture are called Memorials Math. 23.29 John 11.38 chap. 19.41 by which the Righteous are taught to Remember their latter end VIII The Magnificent Tombes and the Sumptuous Sepulchers are but so many Scaffolds Stages and Theaters of human Frailty and so many Pulpits out of which our Mortality is Preached and all the Graves of the Popularity are the Coffers of Death the view whereof should instruct us to lay up our Treasure in Heaven and thus though the touch of a Grave defiled the Body with a Ceremonial Pollution in the time of the Law Numb 19.16 yet the sight of a Grave may serve to cleanse the Soul by a Spiritual Consideration of our latter End even as the sight of the Leviathan being raised up made Men Purify themselves Joh. 41.25 IX The Grave being prepared for the Dead Corpse then Men proceed with their Funeral Pomp and Exequies the mourners go about the streets and a great train of Relations Friends and acquaintance accompany the dead unto his Grave and follow him that is going to his long home Eccles. 2.5 this going a Procession to the Grave is a Memorial to them of their own Condition that they in their Course must die and be carried forth in like manner thus they are called of God to remember at such times then have they special cause to remember that Iron Chain of Death and Mortal necessity by which the dead Person is said to draw all men after him as there were innumerable before him Job 21.23 X. Then are Men called to climb up the Mountain of Contemplation from the
height thereof to look about them from one end of the World unto the other to behold the two great Gates thereof so often mentioned in Scripture that stand always wide open night and day the one of entrance into the World and the other of departure out of it Job 1.21 Eccl. 7.5.14 15. 1 Tim. 6.7 there may they observe how many Thousands come every Hour Naked Crying and Crowding into the World at their Birth and as many Thousands every Hour of the Day and Night that depart Groaning and Crowding out of this World at their Death thence they see how one Generation goeth and another comes Successively Eccles. 1.4 one draws on the one and another drives on the other and there is no Rest in this Race but all run Uncessantly from the Oriental Gate to the Western Port even from the Womb to the Grave XI And as it was ordained at the new Temple that he which Entred at one Gate must not return through the same but go out at another Ezek. 46.9 So here is no return but every one hasts forward and never ceaseth till they have past the Gates of the Grave and by this Contemplation when we see and find our selves in the midst of the throng carried on with others in the Swift Wing'd Chariot of Time unto the Sun-Setting Gate of the World we are hereby warned to use this fleeting World as though we used it not and to think daily of that new Eternal World out of which there is no Gate of departure when we are once entred into it and therefore also to make strait Steps to our Paths and so run that we may obtain XII Having been at the Grave and perform'd the last duty to the Deceased we then return from the dead to the living to the Friends of the dead to Mourn with them to Comfort them and give them the Cup of Consolation Rom. 12.15 Jer. 16.7.8 Gen. 37.35 1 Chron. 7.22 John 11.19 and in this action we have another Call to remember our End and while we administer Consolation to others we are to take an Exhortation our selves Now the house of mourning is the School of mortification and therefore it is better to enter into it than into the house of feasting for there is the end of all men and the living will lay it to his heart and so be made better in his heart by the Consideration of the dead and by the Sadness of the Countenances waiting on that Consideration Eccles. 7.2 3 4. XIII When the Comforters of them that Mourn are departed to their respective Habitations yet still the Friends of the dead even while they are on Earth so often as they miss their departed Friends and want the help and benefit which they were wont to enjoy from them so often are they call'd to remember Death that caused such Separations Lum 4 18.20 and in this remembrance they are withal Warned to be prepared ready for Death and not to be Conformed unto this World from whence their Comforts are taken away when the Shepherd takes up the young Lamb the Ewe follows him of her self and needs no calling nor driving when the great Shepherd of the Sheep takes away the Souls of Young and Old and of dearest Friends from one another it is to Encourage them to run after the Lord and to long after his Presence in whom they shall find more then all this World can afford XIV So often as we think of an indulgent Parent or an intire Friend that would have rejoyced with us and assisted us so often are we called to be stirred up in our desires to be with them and especially to run after such a Shepherd that hath laid down his Life for his Sheep John 10.11 Whom the Ewe should follow more then her Lamb and whom our Soul should long after more then after our dearest Friends thus this missing of Friends and Separation from them both is to some and ought to be unto all an effectual means to Separate their minds from the Earth to loosen their hearts from the love of this Life and to make them aspire after that perfect and indissoluble Communion into which their Friends are gone before CHAP. VIII Eternal Life described and practically considered THis Consideration of the last period of our Life ought most to affect us which must end in Eternal Bliss or everlasting Woe this being duly thought upon may serve to make a deeper Impression upon the Soul and be retained in the memory more than all the memorials that have been rehearsed Now would it not seem Strange if any Person were to have Executed upon him the next day a Shameful and Ignominious Death or to be Exalted to a Rich and Honourable Estate think you that this Person could not keep in mind the Judgment approaching or the glad Tidings of his Worldly Happiness without the help of a remembrance and more strange is it that these great and main Concerns of Eternal Salvation or Eternal Misery should not by their own value press the Heart of Man with their ponderosity unto a continual remembrance of them without other warnings when as we know not whether we shall have a days Respite before they approach II. The Last End of the Righteous is Eternal Life and this Life consists especially with God and the Saints Now by Fellowship with God Men come to see God Math. 5.8 Even to see him as he is 1 John 3.2 to see his face which no man can see and live Ex. 33.20 to see him before whom the Glorious Seraphims Cover their faces with their wings Isa. 6.2 To see the Holy Trinity the Blessed Father Son and Holy Ghost Cloathed with the Sacred Robes of their several Beauty and Majesty shining distinctly as the pure Jaspar the Carnation Sardine and the Green Emerald Rev. 4.3 then the Son will manifest himself to those who are his John 14.21 and they shall behold his glory John 17.24 and and the Father shall be seen in him John 14.9 10. and with them both the seven spirits which are before the throne even that one and the same spirit Enlightning with his Seven-Fold Graces and Gifts that bright Seven-fold Lamp of his Church Rev. 14. chap. 4.5 1 Cor. 12.11 III. With this Vision shall the soul be satisfied when it awakes Psal. 17.15 and this Pleasure Surpasses all that Mortal Eye can behold for even the Heavenly Angels are but a shadow of that Goodness and Glory which is in God the Creator and Author of all things Rom. 11.36 all is but as a drop of a Bucket or as a small Mote of dust that turns not the ballance yea as nothing and less then nothing before him Isa. 40.15.17 The Beauty of this World and the Excellencies of all Earthly things are such as Eye hath seen and the Heart imagined but this Glory and Pleasant Countenance of God is Exceedingly above all that we can desire or think Eph. 3.20 Such as eye hath not seen nor ear heard
Brass for Gold Pebles for Pearls Earth for Heaven VII But let the advantages of Death mitigate the Fears which is apt to arise in us from the apprehensions of it when Abigall told Nabal the threatning Words of David the Text says 1 Sam. 25.27 his heart died within him and became as a Stone thus is it with the most of us when any Summons of Death is given nay not only with the most but even sometimes with the best Christ cometh to the Disciples on the Sea to preserve them from the Storm and they are Troubled Death cometh to deliver us from all evil and we exceedingly Tremble indeed the reason is because we Consider not that Death is a deliverance and an advantage to us what Chrysologus saith of Martyrs is true of all Good Men Their death is a birth and end a beginning they live by being killed and whilst they are thought to be extinguished on Earth they shine in Heaven and surely were this well pondered by us we would not seek Consolation against Death but Death it self would be our Consolation those Words of Job chap. 16.14 I have said to Corruption thou art my Father to the Worm thou art my Mother and Sister are not unfitly allegorized by Origen to this purpose as if he therefore called Corruption and Worms his Father and Mother because as Parents are comforters to their Children so were they to him VIII It is true the Separation of Soul and Body is Terrible and a natural Fear of it cannot but be in all I but it is as true in respect of the Godly that when this Separation is made the Soul is set at Liberty and rejoyceth yea the Body is at rest and knoweth no Trouble and is such a Separation to be feared this Life what is it but a going to Death and Death what is it but a going to Life little cause there is then sure why we should either too much Love the one or Fear the other shall that be the Object of our Fear says Tertullian Which freeth us from what ever is to be feared and this we have from the Mouth of a Roman I would not be Young again though God would grant it me and he giveth this Reason because when I die I shall go from my Inn to my home I. It is not Death it self but our mis-apprehension of Death is terrible to us says St. Ambrose Did we look through beyond Death at the happiness which followeth it would not be dreadful but Amiable in our Eyes and with the Apostle we would not Fear but desire to depart that of the Wise Man Prov. 14.32 the Righteous hath hope in his death the Caldee reads the Righteous hopeth he shall dye so far is a Good Man from fearing of that he hopeth for his dissolution and though he dare not rashly hasten yet he willingly entertaineth it whensoever sent by the Almighty to him X. Now if a good Life preceed an happy Death cannot but follow nor is it probable a happy Death should be the Consequent if a religious Life hath not been the Antecedent some there are who would invert these Words of the Apostle Phil. 1.21 To me to live is Christ but to die is Gain and make Gain the predicate of the former and Christ of the latter thus doth every Covetous man say To me to live is Gain and to dye is Christ Vain Men who will have Gold to be their God and yet Christ to be their Redeemer they will serve Mammon whilst they live and yet be saved by a Saviour when they dye but it will be Just with Christ to say to all such Mammonists in these Words of God to the Israelites in the day of their distress Go to the Gods which you have Served the Gain which you have lived to and let that deliver you in this hour of your Death XI Others there are who would severe these Clauses whilst they would gladly say To dye is Gain but not to live is Christ one was asked whether he had rather be Croesus or Socrates his answer was he would be rich Croesus in his Life and good Socrates at his Death you know whose Prayer it was Numb 23.10 Let me dye the death of the Righteous and let my last end be like his and it is that no doubt which many wish and desire nay hope who yet regardeth not to live the Life of the Righteous and that their Course to that end may be like his but what a Folly nay Madness is it for Men to expect to Reap that they do not Sow to Sow to the Flesh and to the World and yet Reap by Christ the Gain of everlasting Life after Death as therefore we expect the one let us endeavour the other and if Gain by Death be our Hope let living to Christ be our practice XII So that this Scripture thus Considered doth plainly put a difference between the Precious and the Vile the Godly and the Wicked whilst to these who live to themselves Death is a loss but to those that live to Christ it is a Gain Adrian was wont to say that Death is the Rich Man's fear and the Poor Man's desire and this I may well apply here Death either is or may be the bad Man's fear but the good Man's wish or to use St. Ambrose his Expression it is an Haven to the Just but a Shipwrack to the Guilty to the Good a Bed of Repose but to the Wicked a Rack of Torture The Man who liveth to the World saith to Death as Ahab to Elijah 1 Kings 21.20 Hast thou found me oh mine Enemy but he who liveth to Christ may say to it as David of Ahimaz 2 Sam. 18.27 it cometh with good tydings XIII And now would you on the one hand see the reason why you are so fearful of Death it is because your Consciences accuse you that you have not lived as becometh Christ's Disciples and so you may thank your own Guilty Consciences for those fears of Death it was not without reason that St. Paul saith 1 Cor. 15.56 The sting of death is Sin since Death is only venemous and deadly to them who live in Sin on the other hand would you see the way to a joyful End would you have Comfort in and Gain after Death Oh let it be your Study to live to Christ it is our Saviour's Counsel to his Disciples Mat. 6.25 Take no thought for your life let me alter it a little take no thought for your death but for your Life let your Care be to advance Christ in your lives and it will be his Care to Confer the Gain of Glory and Immortality upon you at your Death XIV Lastly I shall earnestly beseech you in those Words of our Saviour to his Disciples I say unto you all Watch indeed when we see many falling in their full Strength and snatch'd away in the prime of their days have we not reason to Watch and Watching to prepare for the Hour
is not a Shadow but a Substance not a Lease but an Inheritance not Vanity but Felicity and shall be far more in the Fruition than it is in the Expectation VII Are our Friends for the present in a flourishing Estate Take we heed how we Launch out either our Hopes or Love too much towards them considering that they are but Vanity and therefore our Hope which is placed on them will end in Shame and our Love in Vexation VIII Why so big with Expectation of Advantage or Advancement from thy Rich Ally Honourable Lord Potent Friend Alas thou dost but set thy Foot upon the Water which cannot bear thee why so inflam'd with Affection to thy beautiful Wife Child or near Relation Alas thou dost but embrace a Shadow in thine Arms which cannot nor must not stay long with thee but set thy Affections on Heaven to the possession whereof he will bring us who hath purchased it for us IX Now because Death daily attends us let us wait for it and consider well these Four things First Whence thou camest now this thou art told That Sinners begat thee in Sin and miserable Wretches brought thee into this Vale of Misery So that thy Conception was Sin thy Birth Misery thy Life a Punishment and thy Death a Torment and the longer thy Life is the more Sin thou wilt have to answer for But perhaps thou wilt say To what end is this humane Life lent thee Why only to gain a Heavenly Life and this is all Divine Love aims at that thy Life may seem shorter and thy Labour less X. Secondly Consider whether thou goest thy Life which like a Flower is subject to fade and decay tells thee That thou art in a passing State but let it rejoice thee to think that thou goest to thy Fathers and be comforted in this hope thou shalt be buried in a good old Age therefore let it not trouble thee to live nor affright thee to Dye but live in Patience and dye in Desire though thou dost here for a while bewail thy Sorrow thou wilt at length forget thy Banishment and return to thy own Country XI Thirdly to express what thou art what Language can that unfold Dust and Air this thou knowest and to Dust thou shalt return that is certain Man is a sickly diseased empty thing and every Man shall be turned into nothing This none can plead ignorance in for our Metal is a moist Humour and the Mould no better in an unclean Womb condemned sooner than born that 's our condition our best Stock is the Seed of Abraham and with Job we say to Corruption thou art our Mother and to the Worms thou art our Brethren and Sisters these are our great Kindred our dwelling is amongst Insects our quantity vile our weight lighther then Vanity our worth nothing What then is our being a Dream and Sorrow XII Fourthly Consider what thou shalt be thou knowest what thou art and therefore dost know thy self not to be but yet thou dost desire both to be and to know what thou art for to see God and to live with him is to enjoy him and this is eternal Safety and secure Eternity this may be admired though hardly understood yet better understood then can be expressed therefore to thy Soul say O Soul that art ennobled with the Image of God adorned with his likeness espouto him by Faith redeemed by his Blood endowed with his Spirit ranked with his Angels What hast thou to do with Flesh but to contemplate on that brightness that sweetness and pleasure which remaineth for thee in that Vision where thou shalt behold Christ Face to Face for evermore THE TABLE THe Introduction Page 1 Chap. I. Several Notions of Death what it is its Author Name and Nature 6 Chap. II. That Death hath no respect of Persons but we are continual dying whilst we live 10 Chap. III. The Certainty of Death Practically Considered 14 Chap. IV. Several Motives to remember Death Practically Considered 17 Chap. V. Of Sin the means of Death of Sickness Youth and Old Age. 26 Chap. VI. Several forerunners of Death which may Warn Men to prepare for it Practically Considered 37 Chap. VII Of the Separation of Soul and Body with other Memorials of Mortality Practically Considered 46 Chap. VIII Eternal Life Described and Practically Considered 57. Chap. IX The Christian's Map of the World wherein the Vanity of it is shown in the shortness of Man's Life and that this World is not a Place of long Continuance Considered Practically 68 Chap. X. That Man himself is Frail and is no Continuing City or has any Duration here Practically Considered and Emblematically Discussed 78 Chap. XI That there is nothing in this World Worthy of taking off our Affections from Heavenly things Practically Considered 89 Chap. XII Several Instrumental means to be used in the seeking and attaining of a Heavenly Kingdom Practically Considered 101 Chap. XIII A Prospect of the Heavenly Jerusalem which we are to seek Practically Considered 113 The Second Branch How to Fortifie our Selves against the Fears of Death CHap. I. That if we dedicate our Lives to Christ the Advantage of Death will be to our Selves 125 Chap. II. Of the Fears of Death and how to Fortifie our Selves against them Practically Considered 136 The Third Branch CHap. I. Containing Spiritual Remedies against Immoderate Grief for the Loss of Relations and Friends Practically Considered 150 The Close 160 FINIS