thus made him and all things else for his use and service I believe That all that God made amongst which was man was exceeding good and whatsoever was afterward not good was through the defect of the Creature I believe That man being thus made and engaged to serve his God yet was made liable to fall Concerning the Fall of man VI. I believe That Man fell and that wholly from God and that being thus fallen God might justly have taken advantage upon fallen man and have cast him and his posterity off to all Eternity as hee did the fallen Angels Concerning Gods workes of grace 1. Of Election VII I believe There is an Election of Grace and that according to that Election there shall be but a few that shall participate of the way of recovery by Iesus Christ. Concerning the work of Redemption and Reconciliation VIII I believe That there was no cause in man being fallen to move God to recover him from that fallen estate but onely he was moved from his owne bowells I believe being moved so from himselfe hee found out a way himselfe for mans Recovery I believe That the way so found out and the meanes by which alone fallen man can be restored was by a Mediator taking upon him our Nature that so he might pacifie the wrath of God for the sinne of our Nature that wee might thereby be fit to live with God in our Nature Concerning Originall sinne IX I believe That our Nature was sinfull and that the sin of our Nature was the cause of all our sorrowes temporall and Eternall we dyed spiritually at the instant of the fall and all shall certainly dye a temporall death and only some shall be delivered from dying eternally Further. Concerning the worke of Redemption and Reconciliation the sole Redeemer the fruit of Redemption the mysterie of conveyance c. X. I believe That as the whole Trinity did worke in the Creation of the world so they did also equally worke in the worke of our Redemption God the Father and the Holy Ghost sending and the Son being sent and comming But I believe that Christ hath alone performed the worke of redemption and reconciliation fully satisfying the Iustice of God to the utmost for all his I believe also that every man in the world is beholding to God for Iesus Christ for the enjoyment of their lives and of the creatures and that for the present they are reprieved from hell and damnation I believe That Reconciliation is to be found in no other but in Iesus Christ who is the alone great Reconciler betwixt God and his people I believe That the worke of Redemption is a great mysterie for the divine Nature to take upon him the humane nature O it is a great Mysterie I believe also That it is a great Mysterie in regard of the way of its particular conveyance And that Christ hath not onely purchased this salvation but also makes a particular Declaration of it 1. By his Word 2. By the Worke of his spirit on the soule And 3. By the witnesse of the spirit I believe That in this worke Jesus Christ purchased strength for every beleever to withstand Sin Death and Hell Concerning Perseverance in Grace XI I believe That by the Lord Jesus Christ there is power purchased for every Believer to withstand Sinne Death and Hell Notwithstanding that the fallen Angels the Devils as they were the first occasion of the fall so they are great hinderers of this worke of Grace and Restauration they having us at such an advantage Concerning Death and the Resurrection and the Immortality of the soule XII I believe That all men according to Gods appointment must dye and continue in the Grave The bodies I meane of every Man and Woman that so they might be made fit for eternity some for eternall wrath others for eternall glory I believe That the soules of all immediately after death goe to God that gave them there to give an account for what they have done in the flesh I believe that the Resurrection of the Saints to grace here and glory hereafter is purchased by the Death Resurrection and Ascensian of Jesus Christ I believe That the same bodies both for substance and forme every joint and limbe shall rise againe and not a bone shall be wanting A substantiall body both for flesh and bones that I prove by Christs resurrection who was raised with the same body Object But you will say Christs body lay but three dayes in the Grave and so his body was not rotted in the dust but ours will lye so long that our bodies shall be turned into dust Ans I Answer The same power that made the body of Adam out of the dust the same power can raise our bodies again although turned to dust So that the worke of Resurrection is a curious worke and secretly wrought in the wombe of the earth as the child is secretly wrought in the womb of the mother There shall be the same matter to make the bodies of in the Resurrection at the last day that there was when God first formed the body of Adam viz. The Dust of the earth The same power shall raise all our bodies though turned to dust Concerning the day of Iudgement XII I believe That Christ shall come personally to judge the world and that with an audible voice by the word of his mouth he shall raise the dead And that at the day of judgement all the sins of the godly shall be laid upon Iesus Christ. They here in the world accuse themselves for sinne and so shall be excused at the last day It is the office of conscience to accuse here or hereafter Conscience having done its office there shall be nothing objected against them at that day But they shall heare that blessed Sentence Come ye blessed of my Father Concerning Glorification heaven XIV I believe The godly at the day of Iudgement shall heare that blessed Sentence Come yee blessed of my Father inherit the Kingdome prepared for you before the beginning of the world I believe In Heaven there shall be no Infant of dayes nor old man of yeares The corruptible life of of the creature shall not inherit eternall life there shall no weaknesse no deformity what ever accompany that life there shall be no eating nor drinking in it but singing Hallelujahs to God for ever I will conclude with the Psalmist Psalm 139. I will praise the Lord for I am fearefully and wonderfully made marvellous are thy works and that my soule knowes right well Reader Thou hast thus far read her Faith now hear her Storie that was faithfully taken from her own mouth And so also was this that followes being the Relation of Gods dealings with her Psalm 34. 8. Taste and see how good the Lord is Psalm 66. 16. Come and I will tell you what God hath done for my soule I shall speake nothing but what God hath done in me and for me THe
of many beholders at the point of death not expecting to live many dayes I apprehended God sending Her impatience of staying here forth two messengers the one was the grim serjeant Death with a commission from God to arest the body I apprehended that the rest of the body should but set the soule at liberty The other messenger sent from God was the Angell of God with a commission from God to carry the soule to the place of Iust men made perfect so that I was perswaded to bid adue to all creature ingagements onely I was to work while it was called to day the works of God for the night was at hand when I should no more work with the Saints on earth It was such a refreshment to my soule that my time was at hand that I was glad to be uncloathed that I might be cloathed upon So that I could say oh death where is thy sting oh hell where is thy victory I was taken up much 2 or 3 Her care to dye to the Lord. dayes in the work of exhortation of friends that came to visit me then the Lord sent a messenger of his who made a new report again of my Fathers house which was much illustrated to me by an instrument of his I could not but expresse to them who came to visit me what great things were to be injoyed in my fathers house said oh that they might come to me and to the Instrument I said if God had sent him to make a report of these things to my eares I bid him speake on for I was willing to heare what God would speake to me by him I was much conversant in the meditation of these things for twenty four houres or there about but before I was out of heaven in my thoughts I felt a thorue in my flesh Satan buffeting of me arguing thus against Gods proceedings by reason of the dispensation of God changing my bodily condition promising me some continuance in the Land of the living for a season here I found the rebellion of the flesh with the opposition of Satan to quarell against God being unwilling to abide in the flesh notwithstanding God saw it was better for me to be in the body for a time I desire whatever A sweet frame of spirit seem good to God may not seeme grievous to me I had no quiet nor rest in my soul till I saw this distemper my unwillingnes to submit to the wil of God wrought out and for that the Lord made me to seeke him earnestly and he was found in the day of my affliction I said within my self what good would my life doe me if God did not take away the evill of sin my affliction was nothing but my sin was my affliction and the Lord harkned and heard and took away my sin then I found my affliction nothing though greater than formerly yet Affliction easie as easie as ever then the Lord put me upon it to consider why he delaid his coming in that way wherin I apprehended he was about to Come I apprehended these to be the ends First To let me see the evill Her holy interpretation of Gods dealings towards her of my heart what I was in my selfe refractory rebellious another end was that I might see the worke of Gods grace in the hearts of some and be instrumentall to doe some thing for their good if God pleased to incline me for the helping forward of that work of his for I apprehend I shall work no more for the Saints after this life though Iesus Christ worke for the Saints in Heaven as well as when he was on earth yet the Saints work for the Saints only in this life The other end was as I apprehend that I might live to take care for a Child and to engage some honest man to take him which is partly effected Another end I apprehend was that I might take notice of the answer of the prayers of others Againe having been taken up in my thoughts more than ordinary in and about the differences of the times among the Saints in these late yeares in and about some Circumstances about Religion as I apprehend and I Her opinion concerning the differences of the present time was perswaded that the circumstance was nothing in comparison of the substance some said this was the way and some said that was the way some were for a separated Church others for a mixt Church First this I was perswaded that Iesus Christ was the only way to salvation by a worke of grace in the hearts of his people But I apprehending that the society of Gods people was very usefull and that those of the Independent society as they are called did make an improvement of the society of the Saints more than those that were out of that way did for the present It made me to have some inclination to that way and thereupon to apply my selfe to God for his direction in it what to doe then I saw that the Independent society went into their way in and by a covenant which I could not see any ground for whereupon I desired their grounds but found little or no satisfaction Their scriptures were Exod. 19. 6. Ezek. 16. 6 7 8. Jer. 50. 5. Acts 5. 13. Eph. 4. 3. Be Exod. 19. 6. Ezek. 16. 6 7 8. Jer. 50. 5. Acts 5. 13. Epes 4. 3. knit together in love which say they implies a covenant but I could not see by their light but did apprehend that that scripture was directed to the Saints in generall and not to Congregations in particular then they said they prest not their covenant as absolutely Her opinion concerning entring into Church-fellowship by a Covenant necessary but left it as a voluntary act then I began to think whether a voluntary vow were lawfull to be taken in matters of Religion which I find lawfull in scripture as David did vow against his sin and it s put upon record in scripture that if we vow to God we must not deferr to pay it then I began to think that the society of Gods people was vsefull and if it could not be injoyed Note without covenanting its just with God to give us up to covenanting for the hardnesse of our hearts who would not willingly do it without this And I conceive that David could not come up to duty as he would till he came to covenanting but I began to think wheher this covenant so much prest was my duty viz. to joyne in a way of Covenant for the injoyment of the society of the Saints and after seeking of God he gave me this place If thou doest not vow thou doest not Her determination upon it sin and it satisfied me that I might injoy the society with the Saints out of the way and therefore saw no necessity of ingaging my selfe in the way And he also gave me these places to satisfie me further be ye followers
whom we may pronounce this text while he lived he lived to the Lord and when he dyed he dyed to the Lord And yet this must be pronounced of all those that when they dy shall be the Lords O remember your latter end 4. This may instruct us in the right way to dye comfortably He that knowes he is the Lords cannot dye sadly now wouldst thou find this while thou livest live to the Lord when thou dyest dye to the Lord. O the sweetnesse of perfumed death to the Saint I remember I have heard of an holy man that when he was about to dye profest to this effect Now saith he were all the honors pleasures and contentments of the world on one hand and death on the other I would scorne them and imbrace this O get your hearts into such a frame which cannot be without making the Lord while you live the end of your life and actions Fiftly this may further instruct Inst 5 us Of the great difference betwixt the wicked and the Godly in their deaths and of the Reason of it The worldling lives to himselfe and dyes to himselfe perhaps he makes away himselfe or dyes murmuringly and blasphemes God he cannot give God a good word at the last The beleever could be content to be present with the Lord yet he waites Gods leasure and patiently submits to what death God will have him dye whether it be Naturall or Violent sad or joyfull short or tedious and whatever his death be he dyes joyfully The One is loth to dye and cannot abide to think of shaking hands with so many Gods as he hath here below the other dyes cheerfully and in his death gives glory to God The Reason of this difference is plain Enough The Saint 1. Hath lived to God 2. Desires to dye unto the Lord. 3. In death as well as in his life aimes at the glory of God 4. Knowes that in death he shall be the Lords The other hath lived to himselfe 2. Aimes at nothing in dying but himselfe 3. Knowes that if he dyes his soule sinks in hell for ever can you blame the man for being loth to goe into Everlasting Burnings The second use may be Terror Use 2 to those that neither regard while they live to live to the Lord nor when they dye to dye to the Lord all those mentioned in the former use that live to their lusts and pleasures to the world c. Should here be deeply reproved Take only two places to reprove you Isa 50. 11. Eccl. 11. v. 9. 3. This doctrine may be applyed by way of Exhortation And O that I could perswade for God this day some or other to begin a life to him every one sayes O that I might dye the death of the Righteous that my latter end might be like his but alas who is there that lives according to his wish wouldst thou bee the Lords when thou dyest live not then to thy selfe but to the Lord Live not according to thy owne lusts live not to thy owne ends but live by Gods law and to Gods glory who would be the Lords when he dyes he must be so while he lives if God dwell with thy soule in life thy soul shall dwell with him in death O leave trading for your selves you spend your strength for nothing and your money for that which will not profit What shall it profit thee to gaine all the world and lose thy owne poore soule Or what wilt thou give in Exchange for it But I passe on my time being expired and the whole doctrine being practicall 2. Let every beleever look upon this as an Engagement of his soule to God that In life and death he is the Lords And from hence learne while he lives to live to the Lord and when he dyes to dye to the Lord. To whom should the servant live but to the master the wife but to the husband the child but to the father and the Saint but to his Saviour O quicken up your soules to this life from this principle your engagments to God are high let your life be answerable lay out the talents he hath given you for his advantage drive on his Interest pursue his ends You are bought with a price Bloody friends have you been to Christ who in this hath excel'd the love of men that while you were yet enemies he dyed for you that by his death you might be reconciled to God Let God never complain concerning you as he once complained of his Israelites Isa 1. 2. I have nourished children but not to my selfe I have brought them up but they have rebelled against me O let your conversation be such as becometh the Gospell of Iesus Christ You live in God live also unto God For none of us liveth to himselfe c. Lastly it may be applyed by way of Consolation and so I shall apply it more generally or more particularly relating to this occasion 1. Generally It may administer comfort unto us concerning our owne deaths 2. Concerning our friends deaths 1. Concerning our owne death What art thou afraid to dye Christian To let thy soule returne to God that gave it Consider first Hast thou not lived to God Hast thou been his factor and art thou afraid to see him his child and art thou afraid of returning to thy Fathers house can the faithfull Servant feare a returne to his Master Consider secondly Hath it not been thy desire to glorify God as he pleaseth to be glorified Thou hast finished thy course runne thy race done thy work God hath had his desired glory of thee in thy life and now his will is that thou shouldst glorify him by dying to him 3. Remember that in death thou art the Lords To dye to me is gaine saith the Apostle While we Phil. 1. 23. 1 Cor. 5. 6. are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. At home doth the Apostle call it a strange home where we have neither father nor brethren nor scarce so much as a friend By death thou doest but returne like the sunbeame into the body of the Sun Thou art yet the Lords friend 2. It may comfort us concerning the death of such our friends as while they lived lived to the Lord. Hast thou a beleeving friend dead 1. Consider that he or she is where they would be it is the desire of every Saint to glorify God in that manner that he desires to be glorified by them to serve him any where whether in the Kitchin or the Parlour it makes no matter to them giving glory to him is that they desire Gods will is revealed when thy friend dyes that he would have them come and serve at court Why weepest thou Thy friend hath his wish she desired to be dissolved and to be with Christ which is best of all Nay 2. Consider thy friend hath not only his wish but his greatest happinesse thy friend is the Lords and that in a more speciall and
of me as I am of Christ That is in this that I desire to know nothing but Iesus Christ and him crucified and this Scripture this is eternall life to know God and Iesus Christ whom thou hast sent and this of the Apostle Brethren have fellowship with us for truly we have fellowship with the Father and the Son the Lord Iesus Christ Then I could not but break forth into blessing of God that I have had much fellowship with the sonne the Lord Iesus and as much as God hath seene good for me with the Saints so that I have cause to blesse God and to trust in God who hath given me society with the Saints out of the way as much as in the way so that that which God gives is not in reference to the way but to his owne love I see nothing in the way but what hath been injoyed out of the way and therefore not to be so much lifted up as it hath been and is by some I pray God that while others ingage themselves by covenant to watch over so many soules in a congregation which is a great work they be not to negligent in watching over themselves FINIS THE LIFE DEATH OF A true CHRISTIAN Deciphered in a Sermon Preached upon the 14 Rom. 6 7 Vers At the Buriall of Mary Simpson a Religious young Maid lately living in the City of Norwich BY JOHN COLLINGS Mr of Arts and Preacher of Gods Word to Saviours Parish in the said City 2 Cor. Ch. 5. v. 2. For in this we groan earnestly desiring to be cloathed upon with our house which is from heaven Verse 3. If so that being cloathed we bee not found naked London Printed for Rich. Tomlins 1649. The Life and Death of a true Christian. Rom. 14. ver 7 8. For none of us liveth to himselfe And no man dies to himselfe but whether we live we live unto the Lord or whether we dye we dye unto the Lord Whether therefore we live or dye we are the Lords COncerning the Author of this Epistle none is so ignorant but knowes it is Paul It was written to the beleeving Romans For the subject matter of it it is an Elaborate discourse clearing up the Doctrine of Iustification that 's the subject of the doctrinall part of it in the eleven first chapters the ensuing part of it is more practicall in which the Apostle gives severall precepts to the beleeving Romans whether in publicke Offices or in private relations Instructing them how to carry themselves towards God and each towards another In this Chapter he instructs them how to demeane themselves towards their dissenting weak brethren In those primitive times there were some Christians that were stumbled at the present abrogation of the ceremoniall law and were not so fully as others instructed in the Doctrine of Christian liberty purchased by the comming and suffering of the Lord Iesus Christ Upon this from the too rigid Censoriousnesse of other Christians there grew a division and as I am apt to beleeve a separation in the Church It seemeth the stumble was concerning two points of the ceremoniall law First The eating of meats Vnclean by the law Secondly the other the Observation of such dayes as according to the Iewish law were to be kept holy Those Christians that were well instructed in the Doctrine of the liberty purchased by Jesus Christ from those Iewish ceremonies rightly conceived that First Those beasts which were Vncleane to the Iews were not now Vncleane It was since then that God had given leave to Peter to kill and eate with a command to him to call nothing Common or Vncleane which he had sanctified And I conceive that piece of the Ceremonall law did typifie the Uncleanenesse of the Gentiles till the Partition wall was pulled downe and 2. They knew that under the Gospell Christians were by no morall precept engaged to keep any day holy but the Lords day yet the other Christians not seeing with so cleare a light as they saw durst not doe these things but still persisted in abstaining from some meats and the observation of some holy dayes which needed not had they been but well instructed But as the consciences of these were too scrupulous and Superstitious So the spirits of the other were too rigid and censorious presently upon this to refuse communion with them The Apostle therefore in this Chapter writes to them to mind them how to carry themselves towards their weak brethren First He gives a generall precept To receive them but wisely Not to doubtful disputations and negatively Through the weaknes of their faith v. 2. not to despise them we ought not to despise but brotherly to Receive those that differ not from us in fundamentals though they cannot agree with us in circumstantialls For I conceive that the difference was not here a thing indifferent it was utterly unlawfull and superstitious to keep Jewish holydayes by vertue of an obligation from the Ceremoniall law It was unlawfull for them to account those creatures Common or uncleane which the Lord had Sanctified yet saith the Apostle be tender of them First despise them not Secondly puzzle them not in doubtful disputations Thirdly do not judge or condemne them Fourthly Receive them into your hearts by love and piety and affection toward them Into your Congregations not refusing communion with them Now having given them this generall Lesson of Exhortation he presseth it in the ensuing verses by severall Arguments The first is laid downe v. 3. God hath Received him Received him how he hath loved his soule in Jesus Christ and united him to himself will ye reject whom God receiveth doth God think him worthy of his heart and doe not you think him worthy of yours will God receive him to everlasting communion with himselfe and is he not worthy to be received into the Communion of your Congregations Secondly from the very law of Nature who art thou that condemnest another mans servant he stands or fals to his own master This is spoken to disswade them from censuring or judging why saith the Apostle he is Gods servant not yours who bids you judge him leave him to his owne master and doe not you exercise a rigid unwarrantable Mastery over him Thirdly from the love of God to him Yea he shall be established God that hath shined in with some light of knowledge and faith into him will in his due time saith the Apostle shine with more that though he seemes to be now weak yet he shall be strong though he be a little staggering now for the present yet he shall be setled and established and this is proved from the two strongest Arguments in the world to assure to a true Christian the accomplishing of any promise for the carrying on any work of grace First Gods power v. 4. He is able to make him stand Secondly Gods love he will doe to his utmost for him he shall be established The word is passive to denote
time this was Pauls case 1 Phil. 23. 24. He had a desire to be with Christ which was best of all can you blame him for that But yet saith he it is expedient for you that I should stay I am content Like a dutifull child that being abroad hath a desire to see his friends and is sometimes wishing O that the holy-dayes were come that he might goe home and it may be he sometimes writes to them for an horse but yet he is not so mad as to run home on foot much lesse to goe contrary to his fathers mind Secondly in dying he will not aime at his owne ease but herein submits himselfe to the Lord and that both for the time of his death and also for the kind of it 1. For the time of his death See Phil. 23 24. If Paul might judge himselfe he thinkes it would be best presently to dye But if it be more expedient for the Churches he should live yet a little while he is content he sometimes sends to his Father to let him know his longing desire to see him but with all lets him know his resignation to his wil and adds yet Father if it be your pleasure I should stay a quarter of a yeere or some few months longer I will submit my will to your pleasure And as for the time of his death so also for the kind of his death if his Father will have him come on foot or on horse-back so he goeth he careth not if he will have him goe on his swiftest race nag or on the dullest jade in the stable he as willingly will be carted as coached thither Now saith Paul I am ready to be offered 2 Tim. 4. 6. It is all one to him to be sent to heaven with a stroke or linger out many days with this pretious one that was severall yeares on her journy to heaven yet seemed not to be tyred with the length of the journy or the slownesse of her horse she knew whose work it was to switch or spurr and therefore held her owne hands This is the true temper of a Christian in dying to the Lord to be content though he hangs a long time and that upon a crosse so the life and death of the Lord Iesus may be made manifest in his flesh to account it all one whether he dye of the plague or a consumption a fever or the stone upon the rack or at the stake whether the sword divides him or the arrowes of the Lord pierce him he dyes not to himselfe but to the Lord. Thirdly he dyes to the Lord as aiming at the Lords glory in his death thence is submiting himselfe to Gods will for all circumstances so also endeavouring to give glory to the Lord in his death and bring the Lord glory by dying Pauls bonds Imprisonment brought glory to Jesus Christ Phil. 1. 12 13 14. And this he may aime at dying severall wayes 1. By his quiet and patient submitting unto God in the messengers of death Psal 39. 9. David was dumbe and knew not how to complain because it was the Lords doing Like Ely It is the Lord let him do what seemeth him good Like Christ Father if it be possible let this cup passe from me yet not my will but thy will be done He kisseth the stake and imbraceth the flame 2. If his death be violent By undanted suffering at his death Thus the blood of the Martyrs paid God a tribute of glory by being the seed of the Church O how glorious preachers were the Martyrs That as it was said of Samson the number of them that he flew at his death was more than those he slew in his life So we might say of them The number of them that they spiritually quickned in their lives was short of them that were quickned by their deaths Docter Taylor made it a plaine going home and counted his journy to two stiles whosoever reads the stories of Eusebius or the stories of the Martyrs under the ten persecutions or of late in those reaking times of Q. Mary that filled the land with innocent blood will find this abundantly instanced 3. Whether it be a violent or naturall death they will bring glory to the Lord by speaking something to the glory of God at their death some way or other setting out the glory of God and his goodnesse towards them shewed to them in their life or death Thus did many of the glorious Martyrs and an abundant full proofe of this was this our glorious Sister O how busy was she to tell what the goodnesse of God had been to her to glorify his name to direct comfort quicken were not many of you warmed at the heart by her spirituall fire Thus the beleever dyes to the Lord declaring his faith in God Now I know my redeemer lives and that I shall see him with these eyes Yet so it may be that a beleever through the nature or violence of his disease may bee a wanting to this duty if the Lord ties his tongue who can help it but if he suffers him but to open his lips his mouth shall shew forth his praise Indeed sometimes a beleever may dye in the dark in regard of the sensible enjoyments of Christs love but even then though hee may complain of his own vilenesse and unworthinesse yet it is a thousand to one but he gives glory to God he dyes not like Nabal not as fooles dye I hasten to the last branch of the Doctrine which is that Fourth Branch Beleevers in death are the Lords Shortly of it 1. The Lord owns them in Death Psa 73. 26. Though my flesh faileth and my heart faileth yet God is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever He ownes them in dying he takes notice of their composing themselves to sleep and hath newes brought him to heaven of every Saints sickening and dying he hearkeneth and heareth their death sighes and grownes yea and after death more then ever then the soul is returned to God and imbosomed in him and mortality is swallowed up of life 1 Cor. 5. 6. 2. They are the Lords then by Vnion the head and the members will be then as much one yea more one then ever they were they that were one in Grace are made one in glory as the scattered Sun beames when they are gathered into the Sun are more gloriously one with the Sun then when there was a seeming division of their vnity for the irradiation of the earth so all the Saints which are but as distinct beames of the Sun of Righteousnesse when they shall be gathered into Christ shall yet continue to be one with him yea and more gloriously one then ever The Bride is now made ready for the Lambe and the private marriage day is come The Bride of the Lambe is here but in her mourning gowne yet Christ who is a pure essence of infinite love delights in her in that dresse and even in that
habit will not live from her when she dyes to the world she hath drest her head and then is more lovely in his Eye but by that time the day of judgment comes she wil be wholy and compleatly drest to come out to Dinner and everlasting banquetting in the chambers of love with the King of Glory Lastly When he dyes he is the Lords by neare Relation this is an undoubted consequence of the other but yet a little more Death breaks all Relations but the Relation that is betwixt God the beleeving soule and its knife is not sharp enough to cut this asunder see this but in two instances 1 Josh 2. God sayes Moses my servant is dead Dead yet my servant we cannot say such a one my servant is dead or if we doe say so it is but an improper phrase of speach for if he be dead he is not my servant he does me no worke he takes none of my wages We can say such a one that was my servant is dead but if the person be dead the cord of our Relation is broken Job speaking of death Job 3. sayes There the servant is free from his Master But God sayes Moses my servant is dead though he be dead yet he is my servant And we may say concerning any holy man or woman concerning this remarkable Saint such a one Gods deare Servant is dead Dead yet Gods servant she hath changed her room and work yea and her wages too but not her Master she is but taken to be his chambermaid in glory from being his Kitchin-maid in the world her work was before below staires now it is above Take but one instance more it is Joh. 11. 11. Christ sayes Our friend Lazarus sleeps he sleeps yet he is Our friend O sweet we say when such a one dyes we have lost a deare friend But God loseth not his relation by his Saints death he is our friend then more than ever and so are we his And thus I have gone through the severall branches of the Doctrine And now what a sweet doctrine were here for application if I had any time but I must but hint at things and lay the letters and leave them to God to stampe upon your hearts I will apply it or rather shew you how you may apply it by way of Instruction Reprehension Exhortation and consolation First of all by way of Instruction Use 1 and so it might be very profitable 1. To shew you the infinite love of God to poor dust and ashes That he will be pleased to owne us in life and death to come and dwell in houses made of clay nay not in all the houses of clay neither some he will not bestow the paines to make them cleane and tenantable for himselfe some great famous built houses built of free stoned Nobility Gentry learning and honour adorned with parts and esteem in the world he leaves to be an habitation for Owles and Ostriches and comes and dwels in the poor Cottages of his Elect ones The poore of this world hath God chosen God loves the house well in which he will dwell you only have I knowne above all the Nations of the Earth c. O mercy that God should say to one that it may be hath not a rag to cover him with nor a place where to lay downe his head Here is the soule in which I have chose to dwell to pitch my name there who are we that Our Lord should come to us we have not a room either in head or heart fit for to entertaine him If he will come he must bring his stoole to sit down on and be welcomed with his own meat and yet he will come and be a father an husband a friend and call us his servants his children his spouse yea his members Think O think what honour it is to be allied to the family of Heaven yea incorporated in it It is a big word amongst men when they can say my Cosen of Essex or Norfolk c. to be allied to Earles Dukes c. We think we mightily speak our honour when he can speake it is it not a far greater when we can say My brother of heaven nay my Father my Lord my husband c Such honour have all his Saints Secondly It might instruct us Inst 2 of the happinesse of beleevers both in life and death we are the Lords possession there is no feare of a bad Landlord Are we his purchase his redeemed ones no feare of any slavery then his yoke is easy his burthen is light his service a perfect freedome Is he our Father our Master our Husband our friend we have then one that is able to help us willing to succour us ready to pitty us a kind father a loving husband a carefull master The Lord is our Shepheard what can we want Surely nothing that All-sufficiency can help us to We are the Lords in our life Nor is our portion in this life Whether we live or dye we are the Lords we are yet his friends his servants Jos 1. 2. Joh. 11. 11. We are yet his temple in which he doth more manifest his glory than in our tabernacle while it comes to be dissolved we are yet his purchased possession Eph. 1. 16. Dying loseth us not that friend O happy truly happy and Blessed are they that dye in the Lord for they rest from their labours It was a lesson that John was commanded to write do you remember it It was written for your Instruction and comfort Whether ye live or die ye are the Lords Thirdly this may Instruct us Instit 3 that there are but a very few that are true beleevers that in death shall be the Lords No more then those that live to the Lord and dye to the Lord. And ah how few those are 1. What shall become of all prophane wretches all drunkards swearers adulterers all those rabbles of wretches Rev. 20. v. 8. Eph. 5. 5. 1 Cor. 6. 8 10. that in stead of living to the Lord live to the Devill to their base lusts and corruptions and all their study is how to obey the flesh in the lusts of it Ah Lord what will become of these poor wretches when they dye when you shall cry out Animula quo vadis poore soule whither goest thou It was a dreadfull passage I lately heard to have been the dying breath of such an one Now goes my prore soule to pay all its debts 2. What shall become of all those that live to the world and make their gain the End of their life whose whole life sounds nothing else But what shall we eat or what shall we drink or what shall we put on What will you gaine friends when to gaine the world you shall weep over your lost poore soules how will you ransome your selves from the pit And so for any other that make any thing below God the End of their lives And ah where shall we find a man concerning
you thinke a good thought which yet you cannot doe of your selves if you rest in it it is naught Christianity is a work the naturall man knowes Alas poor creatures think it is c. Here her speech failed and she again pawsed It being Saturday my private studies called me off and I saw her no more she dying the next day But by the report of her friends she continued her work till God said It is enough and then she quietly surrendred her soule to him that redeemed it What passages she had nearer her death I shall omit being not an ear-witnesse Thus I have now set before you her holy Example and have shewed you how while she lived she lived not to her self but unto the Lord and when she dyed she dyed not to her self but to the Lord. And now to what purpose doe you thinke have I done all this What meerly to commend her God forbid But 1. For the glory of God 2. For your good 1. For the setting out Gods glory in the riches of his free grace 1. That he would reveale himself â—o such a Babe when he conceales himselfe from the wise and prudent 2. That passing by the great men and rich men of the earth he would chuse this meane one in comparison of others to make knowne such a fulnesse of grace in of all kind of grace both for her use and comfort as I have never before in any met with the like It is rare to see one that hath so much both strength and peace as this precious one had to her last houre Secondly I have done it for your good You have seene a quickning Example and heard quickning words the Lord give to me and you quickned hearts Learne hence 1. You that are young O slip not your golden Age. God delights much in young ones reveales himselfe much to babes that begin their life to him 2. You that are mean in the world learne to walke with God to keep close to Christ you may be richer in the grace of Christ than the great men your Rulers 3. Let all learne to be carefull of resting in any thing short of Christ It was her counsell O let her dying words sticke fast she was full of duties holy in her constant converse yet nothing but Christ comforts her 4. Let all learne from her though not to rest in duties yet to performe them and that in secret O be much with God in your closets she tels you how sweet it will be 5. Learne from her Example to be holy yet humble her knowledge puffed her not up yet I dare say she had a great deale more of heaven in her than some hundreds of those that thinke they know enough to be Preachers she was as heavenly as they but not so proud and wanton 6. Learn from her to lay in grace betimes The Winter may come suddenly her snow was fallen early 7. Learne from her in affliction to possesse your sonles with patience to remember it is Gods hand and be still Who heard her murmure 8. Learne from her to tell others what God hath done for your soules This she made her work 9. Learne from her to reprove direct comfort quicken strengthen those that are your brethren This was her work upon all occasions In short learne from her example Not to live to your selves but to the Lord and when you dye not to dye to your selves but to the Lord that both in life and death you may be the Lords There came to my hands a sheet written close containing severall promises which she by her diligent reading had gathered up to sute her soule in the time of need indeed so many and so aptly applyed that it would cause admiration to consider how she could containe them in her memory or readily find them as they lye scattered in the Booke of God without the help of a Concordance But in regard these sheets have swell'd too far already and in regard the promises Skippon on the Promises Leigh on the Promises The Saints Legacy are already sweetly rank'd in severall Books printed I thought good to omit the inserting of them Now to the God of grace be Honour and Glory FINIS