and yearely pay the Minister so much as thou reapest aboue thy paines and charges in gathering the fruits And faile not to binde thy posteritie in all ages to pay the Church this yeerely anuitie and holy tribute but if thou doe neither be assured thou shalt not long prosper for this is a crying sin against thee and thine And I doubt not but the Lord beholding the affliction of his Ministers the crueltie and vnmercifulnesse of these transgressors and the famine and oppression of the poore blind and â—ame of this land will in time stirre vp the heart of some Noble Nehemiah or godly Ebed-Melech to speake to our most gracious Soueraigne for redresse of this Maladie and so farre of this vse and remedie Hauing proceeded thus farre in the first member of watchfulnesse for this life present which in deede is most difficult and of largest scope and without which the other two are to small purpose and seeing that this weighty work concerneth all men all women all ages all functions and all dealings in the world yea in euery thought word and worke we must carefully watch for vnder euery stone lyeth a scorpion ready to sting vs to death and yet to enter to euery of these particulars were infinite I therefore for better discharging of the whole thought to annexe a few helpes to further you the more cheerefully to vndertake this watch with vndoubred assurance the Lord assisting to effect it to Gods glory your comfort Whereof the 〈◊〉 helpe to watch in all our affaires is for euery man to betake himselfe to a calling which will keepe him from idlenesse and many sinnes this calling is two-fold generall and speciall first the generall calling of a Christian is by all godly meanes ordained by God to endeauour to become truly religious according to the Lords gracious couenant made and sealed at our Baptisme the reasons why wee must make this our calling and daily exercise is first for that we are full of impietie originall and actuall and so liable to eternall damnation by due desert vnlesse we labour to abolish it and become godly and the nature and powerfull working of Gods religion is such that as a precious oyntment it perfumeth sweetneth sanctifieth with the graces of Gods Spirit the whole man otherwise is no better then an vnsauory carrion in the nostrils of the Almighty 2. Then the doctrine of eternall life is so heauenly profound and ample that we cannot in any sufficient measure be furnished therewith vnlesse we make a continuall labour and practise thereof so throughly are we inuenomed by the stingings of the old serpent and ouercouered with the leprosie of sinne that we are wholly vnnaturalized and vnapt for any good thing vnlesse we betimes enter into this holy trade of life this is our plough wherewith we must manure the Church gleebe of our hearts else it ouergrowes with bryers and weeds this is our paradise wherein we must euer be occupied in dressing it else it will become a desart full of Serpents heare must wee euer be learning else wee forget euer watching else our enemy preuaileth no sleeping in sinne then the enuious man soweth tares among our wheat no truce with Satan for then he conquereth no looking backe then vnfit for Gods kingdome The second helpe is for euery man to set and settle himselfe in a speciall calling and honest trade of life whereby he may get a sufficient maintenance both for himselfe his family and the Church and poore to Gods glory and good of his Church and this is Gods ordinance Gen. 3. 19. that all creatures should be of some speciall calling but man aboue all the rest else that he should not eate 2. Thess. 3. 6. to 13. And the law of equitie requires it that as wee enioy the fruits of other mens callings they should likewise of ours and so increase vnitie and amitie as bretheren and this is our paradise wherein we should euer be occupied else we walke not in the way of all creatures Satan excepted who is of no calling yet neither idle nor well occupied we walke inordinately busie-bodies troublers of such as walk in the callings open to all temptations and vanities and yet therein so conceited and wiser then seuen that can render a reason Prou. 26. 16. And such as at no hand can keepe true watch but euer disturbing and persecuting the watchmen of their soules excluded from the protection of Gods Angels a gracelesse generation and if you obserue what heauie iudgements befall the wicked you shall finde that they are cast vpon them by the hand of God when they ranged out of their callings as to Sampson by Dalila to Dauid in the matter of Vriah to Iâ—â—as going to Tharsus to Peter at the high Priests fire c. And contrarily that most of mens wealrh prosperitie commeth to them by their godly and painefull walking in their vocations But because worldlings would cast of their generall vocation to embrace this speciall only and idlers would not labour but pretend walking in their generall calling both complaine they cannot discharge both vocations in on day and therefore take it sufficient to serue God on the Lords day and themselues all the weeke daies I for satisfaction herein thus as in a diary digesting order both callings together and what is spoken of on daies worke may bee meant and applied to euery day First then so soone as thou awakest out of thy sleepe stand vpon thy watch and awake to God for the tempter with his vncleane suggestions is at hand and know that if our first thoughts be holy after our sleepe we be such if vnpure we be wicked then offer to God the sacrifice of prayer for thy sleepe and life and thine that so the Lord being first in account with thee may graciously hold with thee all the whole day 2. Then thinke of all thy sinnes thou canst call to minde and the punishments due to them temporall as eternall pray for pardon for them and be thankefull for thy happy deliuerance from them by Gods mercies Christs merits and working of Gods Spirit in thee which thou shalt the readier performe if thou think of thy death of Gods iudgement day of the paines of hell and ioyes of heauen of the vanities and afflictions of this life as of the momentanie pleasures thereof and how blessed are such as furthest estranse themselues from them and draw nightest to God in all Christian obedience 3. This done thinke vpon the discharging of thy speciall calling this day to Gods glory thy soules health and good of all men and the furthering of thy peace at thy death and of thy reckoning in the day of iudgement These meditations will first keepe thy minde from bad thoughts and Satanicall temptations secondly will sanctifie thy soule thirdly will be forcible motiues to prayers and thankes giuing and fourthly will cause the Lord draw neere thee and
and be merry as that rich Cob Luke 12. 20. 20. Who thinking thus to liue to himselfe and for himselfe hard vnmercifull wretch as he was Oh foole this night will they fetch away thy soule from thee then whose shall those things be which thou hast prouided a short and sore warning yet his case is ours we cast for many yeeres euery man for himselfe yet are not sure to liue till the next morning and the rather because we discharge not the busines for which we were sent into this world as to know God to glorifie his name to be reconciled to his Maiestie to worke our saluation to beleeue in his name to doe good to all men and to repaire his gracious image in vs and keepe his couenant c. Let vs not then no longer deceiue our selues with shadowes nor foolishly delay nor deferre any time to come to God and no longer serue the Lord with smooky hay and stubble 1. Cor. 3. 12. Nor yet as Lawyers vse their Clients with demurs and heereafters promising faire performing foule but God will not be mocked Turne vs againe O Lord God of hosts cause thy face to shine vpon vs and we shall be saued So will we not goe backe from thee reuiue thou vs and we shall call vpon thy name Psal. 80. 18. 19. And thus farre of the occasion of this exhortation to watch and of the Coherence of this Text and of the first part The second part concerneth the sense of the Text and meaning of this watch word which we shall the readier find if we obserue the diuers acceptions and sorts of watching as first 1 Almighty God watcheth ouer his Church continually Psal. 121. 3. 4. 5 out 127. 2. As also he watcheth ouer his enemies Ierem. 44. 27. Dan. 9. 14. 2. The Angels watch to doe the Lords will Dan. 4. 10. 14. 20. Psal. 91. 11. 3. Ministers good and bad be called watchmen Ezach 33. 7. Isa. 56. 10. 4. Sathan watcheth to hurt and harme vs 1. Pet. 5. 8. And to find matter to accuse vs night and day Reuel 12 10. 5. The elect watch Psal. 102. 7. Prou. 8. 33. Cantic 5. 2. 6. All creatures watch to defend themselues from harmes souldiors watch in the field superiors watch ouer their inferiors wicked men watch to steale c. But the watch in this Scripturement is when we carefully prepare our selues for the comming of the Sonne of God to iudgement as is largely set downe in the former verses Mar. 13. 33. to 37. Watch and pray for yee know not when the time is for the Sonne of man is as a man going into a strange countrey and leaueth his house and giueth authority to his seruants and to euery man his worke and commandeth the porter to watch watch yee therefore for yee know not when the Maister of the house will come at euen or at midnight at the Cockcrowing or in the dawning least if hee come suddenly he should find you sleeping That is vnprepared as the fiue foolish Virgins Matth. 25. 3. 8. And those presumptuous Hypocrits Matth. 7. 22. The former without oyle in their lampes the latter crauing olde acquaintance and deserts of the Iudge But this watch we cannot keepe vnlesse we before watch ouer our whole liues carefully ordering the same according to Gods holy reuealed will and with all be carefull to leaue this life in most willing faithfull ioyfull and godly manner preparing and waiting for a blessed departure hence expecting I for a better life after death sutable to our former liues and to this departure and resignation of our soules and bodies into his hands that gaue them vs whereof it euidently appeareth by the premisses that euery man and woman hath three distinct watches to keepe 1. On ouer the whole course of our liues from the beginning to the end 2. The other for death 3. And the third for our Sauiours blessed comming to iudgment From which three we also may gather this discription of watching to wit that to watch is to be exceeding carefull and circumspect to behaue our selues all our life holily soberly and iustly in all our actions according to the Lords will expressed in his word and euer to be heedfull to settle our selues in such a wise and constant religious state of life that we may euer more as good and faithfull seruants be found well occupied and prepared both for death and our Lords comming to iudgement without feare blame or checke And because these three watches must be managed and effected in our life and health time and not in the houre of death or vpon the day of iudgement I will dilate of euery of them in order but first intreate of some points in generall which doe alike concerne these three sorts of watching then descend to discuse of the perticulars And because lightly no doctrine is much regarded vnlesse it be knowne to be necessarie for the auditorie in respect of time and place I will in the first place God aiding me shewe you how needfull this doctrine of watching is to make vs approued and acceptable to God both all our life long at our death and appearing in iudgement which being found necessarie then it must consequently be profitable and therefore pleasant alluring and binding all men and women old and yong to the practise thereof vnlesse wilfully and madly they runne vpon the pickes of their owné destruction which the Lord forbid My doctrine then is this It is a most necessarie worke for all men liuing to watch ouer their liues during their aboade heere as also for the time of their transmigration hence and for their cheerefull and ioyfull appearing in iudgment my proofes be these First because as I shewed the second in the exordium and enterance to this Sermon these three points were the chiefest things which euery one ought to be most carefull of as long as they liue and wherein standeth the glory of God so much as of man ought to be sought for in this life And therefore are most needfull 2. God commandeth vs in diuers places to watch and pray for these three ends as heare Matth. 2. 4. 4. 2. Luke 12 36. 21. 36. 22 40. 46. 1. Pet. 4. 7. 5. 8. Ephes. 6. 18. 1. Thess. 5. 6. 10. c. Now euery commandement of God binds the conscience perpetually to absolute obedience for God that commandeth is our great Lawgiuer who is able to saue and destroy Iam. 4. 12. To say nothing that Gods will is the only rule of euery mans will vnlesse he be a professed rebell then God in the very creation of Man and Angels put this bridle in the mouth of all reasonable creatures that no man without extreame and manifest impudencie durst gainsay but humbly and speedily obay any thing if it were apparantly knowne to be commanded by God but this is knowne so to
shall be the more sanctified and they will learne sooner and with greater facilitie the on of an other then of an elder instructour 5. And if the father perceiueth him to be of ready and quicke capacitie he may acquaint him as hee thinketh best with his booke which shall keepe him from bad company or being idle and ill occupied then let him drop into him by familiar tearmes the name and right meaning of God his Creator of Christ his Redeemer of the holy Ghost his sanctifier then of the holy Trinitie in the Vnitie of the Dietie in as plaine easie and briefe manner as possible he can neither shall he labour in vaine for God will giue a wished blessing and comfort to his owne worke 6. Thus the sixth yeere of his age compleatly passed and the seauenth current then must hee prouide him a faithful godly schoolemaster to traine him further on in learning vertuous educatiō yet so that he forget not himselfe that still he is his father and therefore is to watch ouer him and must teach him priuately as his Master publikely to know and loue the Lord and to render some reasons thereof as thus we children must loue God aboue all because he loueth vs he made vs of nothing then God loueth vs for he gaue his Sonne to die for vs and gaue vs his Spirit and word to sanctifie vs and bring vs to him and therefore must wee obay the same and loue and praise God for by these meanes he gathereth vs to the mysticall vnion of his sonnes body and to the communion of his Elect Church Finally God loueth vs for after death he will raise vs to life and we shall euer liue with him in heauen and therefore must we loue and glorifie him in euery thing Then teach him to feare and abhorre sin in thought word and work And first to know as much as conueniently may be by the ten commandements what sin is and the temporall and spirituall penalties thereof As thus also wee must not sinne for then God will be angry with vs then wil he take his grace and peace from vs then will he send vs troubles sicknesses death and cast ve to hell with the diuell and reprobates And let him learne to doubt of his doing and demand of his parents if this should be done or vndone if the Lord bid or forbid it if he loue or hate it and to conclude that if God will it I will doe it if not to die rather then doe it 7. The seuenth yeere complete and the eight current acquaint him with the Bible and the principall stories therof as of the creation fall and recouery of man of the deluge and burning of Sodome of Israels departure out of Aegypt of the whole acts and life of our Sauiour Christ c. Then with other parts thereof and withall to make some vse thereof as we must not breake Gods commandement for this brought sinne and misery vpon the world wee must nor mocke the ministers for this caused God to send Beares to kill the children of Bethel maids must not be gadding about so Dinah was defloured we must not breake the Sabbath for he that gathered stickes that day was stoned to death nor blaspheme the Lord for the blasphemer must die the death nor with Absolon dishonor our parents nor with Cain commit murther c. Only be carefull not to ouercharge him with too many things at once nor yet to cloy or ouer weary him for there is nothing more pernitious then sacietie in well doing this will cause him forsake all but let his labours be workes of libertie freedome and sport knowing that the schoole-house is called not Carnificina a butcherie but Ludus a sporting and playing place where all things bee taught and learned with ease and delight Thus let him proceede till he be readie for some calling but euermore the parents must be watchfull that he be not carried away with ill company or infected with the sinnes of the time place or his age but that euer he proceede according to these beginnings and while the parents bee parents let them watch and command ouer their children and they euer obay c. Then thirdly Masters are to watch ouer their families with as great care for the time being as ouer their children and also ouer their kindred and friends and euery one ouer another that their hearts be not hardened with the deceitfulnesse of sinne and at no hand bee of Cains humour to say or thinke am I my brothers keeper Gen 4. 9. But because it were an endlesse labour to speake of all sorts of people and of all duties belonging to them and to euery period of mens ages where of their be already intire volumes extant I will surcease and speake of on or two more and referre the rest to euery godly mans consideration The next vse serues only for a memento to the godly Ministers not to forget their names but as in Scripture they be called watchmen Ezech. 3. 17. and 33. 2. 6. 7. So must they carefully and faithfully watch ouer the poore sheepe and lambes of Christ Iesus And howsoeuer most men take this to be no labour at all and that such as are in this worke most wakefull to be busie bodies taking more vpon them then neede for these sheepe are as wise and carefull for their saluation as they else it were pitty of their liues c. Yet Gods seruants finde it an Art of Arts and a Science of Sciences to ouersee and superintend this wily flocke euer distrustfull and suspecting all plaine dealing taking their friendly louing watchman euer to be their greatest and most malitious enemie and at euery bray laboureth to hide themselues from him or to escape out of his fould so that they may be resembled to fish which bee so sharpe sighted fearefull and distrustfull that were it not there be so many fishes in euery brooke and riuer Gen. 1. 20. and 48. 16. The fisher could hardly catch any and so if the Lord wrought not miraculously by his word and spirit with his painefull Minister he should neuer catch on of them so wilde and vntractable they be nay hee shall be so farre from catching them be he an vsurer a Church robber an oppressour c. that vnlesse he well see to himselfe the fish will catch the fisher and make him more the childe of hell then themselues and therefore no tongue is able to expresse his care vigilancie labour and trauell neuer at rest that whereas all others worke the sixe weeke daies yet they rest from their labours vpon the Lords day but this poore shepheard is to expect no rest but as the Sunne running his course laboureth all the weeke but most of all vpon the Lords day and what remedie but that as Ierem 10. 19. It is their sorrow and they will beare it Episcopius Printer in Basill had this Embleme in the first page of the bookes
take no care of paying their rent shew they despise their Landlord to their own losse hurt and confusion 6. Study and exercise daily the Art of dying most men lay how to liue in the world but a Christians care should be how to die well out of this world and that master-care carrieth about all the inferiour and subordinate cares and affaires of this life therefore let vs invre and accustome our selues daily by little and little to die before death come for hee that leaues the world before the world leaues him reacheth the hand to death as to a welcome messenger and with Simeon departs in wished peace and as men that are appointed to runne a race exercise themselues before in running that they may get the victory so should we begin to die now while we are liuing that we might die well in the end so Paul 1. Cor. 15. 31. said that hee died daily not so much for that hee was daily in danger of death by reason of his calling but for that in all his dangers and troubles hee inured and exercised himselfe to die for when men do make the right vse of their afflictions and endeuour to beare them patiently humbling themselues as vnder the correction of God then they begin to die well and to doe this indeed is to take an excellent course He that would mortifie his greatest sinnes must begin to doe it with small sinnes which when they are once reformed a man shall be able more easily to ouercome his miseries so likewise he that would beare the crosse of all crosses namely death it selfe must first of all learne to beare small crosses as sickenesse troubles losses which may fitly be tearmed little deaths and the beginning of death it selfe and wee must first of all acquaint our selues with these little deaths before wee can be able to beare the greatest death of all Against the afflictions and calamities of this life are as it were the Harbingers and Purueyors of Death and we must first learn how to entertaine these messengers that when the Master shall come wee may in better manner welcome and cheere him 7. As many as bee able to doe any good seruice eyther for Gods glory or his Church or Common-wealth or to any priuate man or woman because his departure hence is vncertaine and the night of his day draweth on hee must hasten with all speed to doe it lest death preuent him and it be laid to his charge so that hee loose his reward for this point note Eccles. 9. 10. Iohn 9. 4. Galat. 6. 10. And hee that hath care to spend his daies in well-doing shall with much comfort peace of conscience end his life for he that labours for the good of others shall be beloued while he is here and lamented when he is gone but such as onely make worke for themselues as hogs at the trough both liue without being desired nor beloued and dying are neuer missed nor lamented Let vs then doe all to Gods glory and mens good and thus farre of our generall watch Next followes our particular vvatch for death as thus So soone as wee feele sickenesse seize vpon our bodies then is it high time to begin our particular watch and preparation for death where 1. Wee must consider whence our sickenesse commeth euen by the speciall prouidence of God and the cause of this affliction is our sinne as Lam. 3. 30. Mich. 7. 9. Math. 9. 2. Iohn 5. 14. Wherfore is the liuing man sorrowfull Man suffereth for his sinne and though there be no other causes of our death yet sickenesse comes ordinarily and vsually of sinne and therefore speedily must we make a new examination of our hearts and all our liues passed say with Israell Let vs search and try our wayes and turne againe vnto the Lord Lamen 3. 40. and so labour to bee reconciled vnto him in Christ though wee haue formerly beene long assured of his fauour 2. Wee must make a new confession vnto God of our new and particular sinnes not forgetting the old specially the sinnes of our youth and ignorance before our calling and thereto Thirdly make new prayers and more earnest then euer before with vnexpressed sighes and grones of the spirit and that for pardon of the same sinnes and for full reconciliation with God in Christ. In the exercise of these three duties stands the renouation of our faith and repentance whereby they are increased quickened and reuiued and the more sickenesse preuailes in the body the more should we be carefull to put them in vre that spiritual life might encrease as temporall life is decayed then are we to forgiue and desire to be forgiuen of all the world specially of our owne Minister 4. If our paines and sickenesse discourage vs wee are to set speedily our house in order and then send for our Parish Minister who if it may be must not be absent from vs while breath is in our bodie but to exhort perswade encourage answere our doubts pray with vs and for vs help vs in our feares and temptations and as a Bride for her Bridegroome make vs ready attyring vs in the wedding garment and robes royall for the marriage of the Sonne of God neyther must their godly neighbours be now absent but as they haue been formerly privy to our godly liues so if we accuse and condemne our selues they must testifie the truth of vs further then the Ministers knowledge extends and so comfort and set them as eye and care-witnesses of our former life in assured hope of vndoubted saluation 5. And because no godly meanes must be omitted to preserue life till God take it away the Physitians skill is not to be refused obseruing this order that where the Diuine ends there the Physitian must begin and not contrarily for let vs neuer look for health in body vntill wee haue a faithfull and sanctified soule desiring God to blesse the meanes he vseth for vs which we truely cannot doe vntill our Consciences perswade vs of the pardon of our sinnes 6. This done let vs set our soules in order and see how wee stand in the fauour of God and so shall wee die more voluntarily quietly and patiently and let vs labour that our sinnes die in vs before we die in the world and consider we what an excellent thing it is for vs to end our liues before our deaths and in such sort that at that houre wee haue nothing to doe but to die and that then we haue need of nothing no not of time nor of our selues c. but sweetly and comfortably to depart this life 7. This sanctified preparation will cause vs not onely ioyfuâ—ly and cheerefully to depart this life but withall in ful and hopeful assurance of a glorious resurrection First to commit our wiues and children and people vnto the protection of Almighty God to receiue them at his hand in his bâ—essed Kingdome againe Secondly then
vaine when we haue done all we are so weake and corrupt yea and ignorant of this way by Deaths doore to Heauen but if the Lord assist vs with his holy spirit wee shall not misse of a prosperous voyage for if God be with vs who can be against vs and questionlesse he will be with vs if wee carefully keepe this watch and though wee know not the way further then with our eyes we see it yet he knowes it and euery balke and temptation and stumbling stone and will both put in our hearts how to answere euery temptation and as Peter out of prison will lead vs safely that nothing shall let vs for his owne Names sake And therefore let vs confidently sticke vnto the Lord and he will sticke vnto vs for hee hath said I will not faile thee neyther forsake thee Iosh. 1. 9. Heb. 13. 5. Luk. 22. 43. The second Vse serues to put vs in minde of Death for seeing it is thus conuenient profitable for vs to watch against Death and so dangerous and pernitious to forget death vntill it sodainly taketh vs away vnprepared we must subscribe to the iudgement of the godly and also of Heathen writers who would haue mans life to be but a meditation of Death because it meeteth both young old at euery stile and for that nothing is more dangerous nor comfortlesse to any then at an vnawares full of sinne and full of the world to be arrested by Death for if thou look about thee thou shalt finde Death painted in euery place and worke thou doest And therefore thinke vpon it not as thou wouldest of a thing that were to come or some deuised figment but euen as Gods messenger now present and withall not as a thing appertaining onely to others but belonging to thy selfe The Indian Gymnosophists called Brachmanes were so carefull to make their liues a continuall meditation of Death that they had their graues alwaies open before the gates of their houses to the end that at their going out and comming in they might euer be mindfull of their passage to death and this house of earth to wit our graues is the schoole of true wisedome where God teacheth those that be his the misery and vanity of this life and whereas the world considereth no more but the painted face of Iezabel shining gaily at a window and not the miserable and extreame parts of her which after her body was eaten vp of dogges God would haue to remaine whole that thereby as in a figure vvee might see that the world is another manner of thing indeed then it appeareth in shew and that we should in such wise consider the face of it as also to be mindfull also of the extreame griefes sorrowes wherein the glory of it endeth 2. King 9. 30. 1. Let vs then preuent this misery and thinke on our death for this will first make the proudest Peacocke â—ay downe his fairer feathers so often as hee thinketh vpon it though hee pricke them vp againe when hee draweth his eye from this glasse 2. It will make vs serue God sincerely the feare of whom is the beginning of wisedome Marriners while they saile peaceably giue themselues to all riot and disordered excesse but when the tempest beateth into their shippe and death is before their eyes they cry mightily to God so we rocked in the cradle of security as in a ship glutte the forbidden fruit but stricken in aduersity loath this life and labor for a better 3. The memory of Death causeth vs to know that none of these things can be called ours which wee cannot carry with vs out of this world and therfore while we haue time wee should doe all good with them we can 4. In what calling soeuer a man bee hee cannot choose but deale vprightlie in most things if he doe but remember hee must die for what ambitious man would be proud of his honour and offices seeing he must die when all honor wealth and glory shall forsake him and another shall step in his roome as proud as he and when his glasse is runne out another shall succeed him c. vntill Death catch all as fish in his nette and to what purpose should I hoord money or purchase Lands c. seeing that Nakednesse shall be my last end Iob 1. 21. Of the want of this consideration arise all errors deceits for vvho vvouâ—d haue a sparke of presumption to sinne that knevv his end shortly to bee dust and ashes or would make his belly his God that were sure shortly his belly should become worms meat or would bestow one penny in building that were perswaded the graue should become his Pallace or braue himselfe in braueries considering hee shall be turned hee knowes not how soone out of all yea out of house and home in a poore winding sheet Therefore beloued let vs adhorre all vanities which doe but make vs vnwilling to die and open the gates of our soules to all our spirituall enemies a rule in policy it is to vvatch and ward that City which is beseeged round about and such as vvould keepe their cities in flourishing estate must euer be watchfull as if their enemies were at the gates so our Sauiour seeing that wee haue enemies on euery side and that Death the terriblest enemie knocketh at our gates foreseeing the danger might come of our sleepie security commendeth to his Church and commandeth watchfulnesse and therefore let vs not bee wanting to our own saluation but euer desire the Lord to grant vs this grace to number our daies aright and aboue all to perswade our faithlesse hearts that wee cannot heere long continue but must die The next Vse serues for comfort against the feare of Death for 1. If against the comming of Death wee be watchfull and euery way prepared as is aboue said then need wee not feare Death for then we shall die in the Lord and the Angell and Gods Spirit pronounceth from Heauen that such are blessed as is Reucl. 14. 13. Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord from henceforth yea saith the Spirit for they rest from their labours and their workes follow them If then it be a blessed thing to die in the Lord we need not feare it for all manner of seare presupposeth some euill and danger for we are not afraid of a good thing but affect it offered vs and receiue it cheerefully If then wee be not in danger of the second death as none that die in the Lord are it is folly to dread it seeing it is a blessed thing If a towne be well furnished with victualls as was Babilon which was prouided for twenty yeares as writ Xenophen and Herodotus though the towne be besieged the people within are secure but being vnstored quaketh for fear whence we may iudge of what importance it is to preuent dangers and be well prepared in time for that which astonisheth many at their death
but the very Angels would be astonied and wonder thereat and euery man would take it an high blessing of God to be quickly rid therefrom Hegesias a Cyrenian Philosopher did with such eloquence dilate of the miseries of this life that many of his hearers desired wilfull death whereupon Ptolomy the King forbad him to dispute further therof in the Schooles Cicero in Orat. lib. 1. â—uscul quaest Yet will you obiect by dying the godly lose many a good thing and the doing of many excellent workes then to the godly Death is still an enemy filleth vs with terrors and diseases renteth the soule from the body most grieuously causeth our bodies to rotte in their graues and be conuerted to wormes meat and then to dust and ashes then the graue is the land of darkenesse and solitarinesse then death driueth vs out of our vocations out of Gods Church and depriue vs of all worldly comforts and brings vs to iudgement all and euery of which are distastefull and fearefull to Gods Saints Answ. All this is true and wee may thanke Sinne and Sathan for it for had wee not sinned and yeelded to Satans temptation Gen. 3. we should not haue tasted of Death nor misery but Sinne brought Gods curse into the world and specially this for the reward of Sinne is Death and doe we maruell that it as a cursed shippe is ouer-laden with cursed marchandize nay wee all may thanke God it is no worse with vs yet see Gods mercy wrapped secretly in his heauie curse for 1. though Death be our implacable enemy yet is he disarmed and vanquished and swallowed vp of life and though bodily death remaines vnto Gods children for the exercise of their faith patience c. yet all that makes it fearefull or greeuous are remooued preuented or changed and altered to the better for none of these can hinder vs from seruing the Lord and calling vpon our God 2. Neither can our dissolution diuorcing soule and body impair our blisse nor seuer vs from Christ and this parting is but for a time the while it resteth in hope 3. Though the body see corruption yet neuer destruction but euer we expect a day of restitution 4. Though we lye buried yet the memoriall of the righteous shal be blessed 5. Though we be out of our earthly calling yet are wee in an higher and more honourable seruice among Gods Angels and Saints in the Church triumphant 6. And though we be depriued of earthly contentments yet our exchange is with greater aduantage in heauen 7. Death cannot be vncertaine to them that know they must die and daily prouide for it and as for iudgement we will watch and prouide for it but woe to the vnprepared The last Vse serues for thankfulnesse to God for this vnspeakeble mercy to vs as in all other so namely in this that whereas we all the sonnes of Adam had violated Gods sacred Law Gen. 2. 17. and brought death eternall vpon our soules and bodies Rom. 5. 12. c. so vnspeakeable was the loue of our heauenly father to vs that to deliuer vs from this body of Death he gaue his onely begotten Sonne to suffer Death for vs and to be made a curse for vs to redeeme vs from the curse of the Law Galath 3. 13. and changed this second eternall Death to a temporall momentany death making it now the gate of eternall life and albeit that so also this temporall death seemeth and is the greatest and most greeuous and terrible of all temporall plagues and torments and the strength and end thereof so that thus yet it is intollerable to all the sonnes of Adam the Lord heare also for his sonnes sake mitigateth to vs his Elect this first death also giueth vs his spirit and grace to pull out by degrees the stings thereof that it shall not hurt vs no more then a Scorpion that embraceth vs about the sting beeing pulled out and withall giueth vs Christian fortitude in this last combate to gripe with and ouercome death the terrors thereof and which is chiefest of all not onely sendeth his holy Angels in that agony to comfort vs and to be about our beds and paths as he did to his owne Sonne Luk 22. 43. but is with vs himselfe in this troble to comfort and to deliuer vs. Psal. 23. and 41. 3. and often to the greater comfort of such as surviue filleth our hearts while we be heare with ioy gladnes and with an vnspeakable heaueÌ„ly light and feeling of the very ioyes of heaven wherby Gods blessed Saints are in this case so farre from feares terrours that having faithfully and blessedly past all temptations of Satan and relikes of sin which be their afflictions they as men and woemen rapt to the third heaven desire and cry for death pray heartely to be dissolved and be with their Christ their Lord and their God and when death commeth with his last stroake to finish his worke then is he most welcome and most ioyfully receiued and entertained by them The Lord heereby putting a playne difference at this time betweene the death of his holy and elect saints and the reprobates as Psal. 37. 37. Marke the vpright man and behold the iust for the end of that man is peace c. and the end of the wicked shall be cut off The Lords name be glorified euer for this vnspeakable gift and all others in Christ Amen And so farre as now of our watchfulnes for and against Deaths comming The third kinde of watching concerneth our preparation against the day of iudgement and how to be then vvith comfort discharged and so enioy life euerlasting which depends indeed vpon the other two former watches for if we during our abode heere liue godly and depart hence well prepared in the feare and fauour of God it cannot be but we shall be well prepared for iudgement which is nothing else but the iust reward or due punishment in the life to come for the things acted or committed in the time we liued heere And this care likewise must be thought vpon in this life and as our preparation for death so this for life eternall is a forcible motiue to lead a godly life and faithfully to occupie our talents vntill our Masters returne from receiuing his kingdome Luke 19. 13. 15. as we see in faithfull and trusty seruants who in their Masters absence will be carefull to giue the seruants their portions in due season and themselues to be found well occupied Luke 12. 42. c. but if they heare of their Masters returne shortly they will afresh see that all things be in good order that they be not blamed in any respect but if they receiue tidings that hee approacheth and is at the doores now they vse a third on-set oh how now they bestirre them 〈◊〉 how they sweepe the house though swept againe againe before they make vp the beds dresse and
will reply that this requireth much businesse and it is a death to many a good fellow to leaue his folly and labour for piety and therefore we know when our Sauiour walked vpon earth he was so meeke and mercifull and is so still that hee would deny vs any thing that we requested of him and will hee not now likewise be intreated at the generall supplication of all poore people appointed to death yea almost of all the world to grant vs this one and neuer but this one petition that there shall neuer bee any day of iudgement then should we liue meerely sleepe carelesse from all feares and frights and die ioyfully and as for any estate after this life we should looke for none nor yet trouble him to prouide for vs while we be heere for we would shift euery man for himselfe and liue by our wits and me thinkes he should not deny all the world this one request so easie for him to grant and so tending to his honour and glory and beneficiall to vs for now would we serue him duly and offer euery man bountifully vnto him gifts and offerings yea and restore to hoâ—y Church for Gods seruice all the spoyles taken from it so all things considered hee should bee no looser for what losse to him to depriue a few of life eternall seeing he hath the fulnesse and perfection of all glory in himselfe and needs not our prayers nor praises better that a few busie fellows should euer loose heauen then that all reprobates being so many gentlemen and so tall proper and faire conditioned men should for euer boyle fry in hell-fire This supplication questionlesse would soone be granted and if all will not ioyn with me I know God respecteth neyther persons nor multitude I will my selfe request it I know he will not deny it me I answer This indeed would be a fine deuise to gather heapes of gold and â—â—lâ—er for if any couetous Balaam or Iudas who sometimes were in high fauor with God were bid as once Salomon was 1. King 3. 5. to aske what hee would haue granted him or as Elisha did the Shunamite 2. King 4. 13. 14. Methinkes I see in my minde what concourse and suite would of all the world bee made vnto them not to desire wisedome nor children nor any temporal boone but that there should be no day of iudgement to as many as at a reasonable rate price would buy it at Iudas hand euery man according to their ability and as for kingdomes riches honour and glory hee should not bee to seeke for Herod would giue Master Iudas the halfe of his kingdome to liue securely with Herodias Balthasar would make him third Ruler in the kingdome cloath him with purple and put a chaine of gold about his necke to deliuer him from the hand-writing vpon the wall and Felix to deliuer him from this feare of that day would shew him no small friendship Esau to pleasure him would sell his birth-right Satan the God of the world would giue him all the kingdoÌ„es of the world and the glory of them to secure him from this day nay who would not make a purse for this collection and contribution yea crouch and kneele too to master Iudas to buy this immunity no pardon to this neuer was heauen so little regarded nor immortality at a lower price nor God himselfe as now when most men are content to forfeit heauen and depriue themselues of all the good things of God and withall to giue to the most accursed of men euen to the Deuill Iudas masses of gold and siluer which they would neuer do to the poore members of Christ to procure this cursed pardon and now Iudas fault is that he is not couetous enough oh that hee would for this pardon aske aboundantly gold pearles iewels and what not and hee should haue it vvith thankes though they themselues liued beggers euer after for now the couetous Iudge would poure out his bribes the deceitfull Counsellors his Angells the double-faced Atturney his double fees the Oppressors and Sacriledgers their ill gotten goods spoyls of Gods Church the crafts-men their cousening money the Physitions their spoyles of the sicke the Vsurers their bagges the inordinate liuers as hunters faulkners seruing-men and banquerupts their idle and false prophane theeueries yet the poore harlot wil sell to her very petticoat to get money for Christs poore Apostle yea all theeues robbers murtherers and adulterers all rogues vagabonds and who not will now spare no labour nor cost by hooke or crooke to satisfie master Iudas his greedy gutte that he shall neuer neede heereafter to sell his Master for money To conclude what vngratious hypocrite miserable corne-hoorder inordinate pestilent liuer out of a calling egregious malefactor theeuâ—sh cut-purse subtle conycatcher filthy and beastly liuer swaggerer swearer drunkard and idler whosoeuer yea the very A theists howsoeuer otherwise they contemne all yet would sell all for this freedome for then would they open the very gates of hell to entertaine Satan himselfe and all his children not regarding what mischiefe they did being now exempted from iudgement and hell-sire neyther is this my deuised fiction to sport recreate your mindes as it is a lamentable truth to be mourned sorrowed of all Gods elect for goe through the whole world enquire of this point wishing euery man as in the sight of God to declare his Conscience and if they doubt not you shall finde that not onely malefactors but infinite swarmes of Professors are of this minde if wishing would preuaile them that there should bee no day of iudgement for howsoeuer in their troubles they desire to be dissolued and be with Christ yet as weomen great with childe desire they were deliuered but vvhen their houre commeth they cry out and wish it were further off So when the time of their dissolution approacheth they abhorre death and iudgement which noteth they haue not yet learned to die nor prepared for iudgement but with that hypocrite in Micha 6. 6. Would bow and bribe the Lord with burnt offerings and calues of a yeere old with thousand of Rammes and ten thousand riuers of Oyle and giue his first-borne for his transgression and the fruit of his body for the sin of his soule which plainely conuinceth that there is no faith vpon the earth Luke 18. 8. This is the case of all men almost that they would giue any thing that there should bee no day of iudgement and that because their consciences tell them that the day of iudgement is their very day of execution and therefore to escape this day regard not though they depriue all Gods Elect from heauen yea God himselfe from his honor and glory Christ Iesus from his body mysticall the Church and themselues be transformed to beasts in body and soule dying together And this is a notable touch-stone to try mans present state God-ward If with Simeon Paul